Methods and apparatus for distributed gaming over a mobile device

• US 10,709,987 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2019
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2004
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuff, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US16/255,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20190151762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 463 42, 463 1, 463 29, 463 40
• 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 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/75 Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/535 for monitoring, e.g. of user parameters, terminal parameters, application parameters, network parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/558 by assessing the players' skills or ranking
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5586 for enforcing rights or rules, e.g. to prevent foul play

Abstract

Some embodiments of the invention provide a method and system for detecting unusual performance in a game. The game has a participant. The method calculates for the participant, a performance metric. The method compares the performance metric to a threshold value. Based on the comparison, the method optionally connects to a server. In some embodiments, the connection is for uploading a set of data from the participant to the server. The server, of some embodiments, broadcasts to the participant. The broadcast is a one-way transmission. In some embodiments, the broadcast includes a distribution based on a set of sample participants. In these embodiments, the set of sample participants comprises a representative sample of all the participants in the game. The threshold value, of some embodiments, is based on the broadcast and in some embodiments, the broadcast includes a histogram. The connecting occurs, in some embodiments, when the performance metric exceeds the threshold value. The connection, for some embodiments, includes a two-way connection. In some embodiments, the method also tracks for the participant, a participant improvement factor. The participant improvement factor is based on an average performance level for the participant. The method stores the participant improvement factor. The threshold value, in some of these embodiments, is based on the participant improvement factor. The method of some embodiments tracks for the game, a game improvement factor. The game improvement factor is based on an average performance level for several participants in the game. The method stores the game improvement factor. The threshold value, in some of these embodiments, is based on the game improvement factor. In some embodiments, the method examines the uploaded data for particular characteristics. In some embodiments, the particular characteristics indicate the likelihood of cheating activity.

Claims

1. A method of detecting unusual performance in a game, the game having a plurality of persons who participate in the game, each on a client device, the method comprising:

selecting a sampling group of persons participating in the game, the sampling group comprising a subset of all persons participating in the game;

receiving at a server responses to game elements of the game from client devices of the sampling group;

sending from the server to each client device participating in the game, a threshold value determined from the responses received from the sampling group; and

based on a comparison of the threshold value to a performance of each person, participating in the game, determining if a connection to the server for uploading a set of data from the client device to the server should be formed in order to further detect unusual performance in the game.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a distribution of results from the responses received from the sampling group, wherein the distribution of results are displayed utilizing a format including one or more of a histogram, percentile and numerical ranking.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the threshold value is based on the distribution.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection to the server for persons not in the sampling group is only formed when the performance metric exceeds the threshold value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection to the server for persons not in the sampling group comprises a two-way connection.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking at the client device for the person a participant improvement factor, wherein the participant improvement factor is based on an average performance level for the person; and

storing the participant improvement factor;

wherein the threshold value is based on the participant improvement factor.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking at the server, for the game a game improvement factor, wherein the game improvement factor is based on an average performance level for the sampling group; and

storing the game improvement factor;

wherein the threshold value is based on the game improvement factor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the server logs activity for the person.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising examining the uploaded set of data for a set of particular characteristics.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the particular characteristics comprise:

an indication that a client device used by the person to upload the data has been accessed abnormally;

or

an indication that the uploaded data has been altered;

or

performance data of the person that shows unusual improvement over a history of performance for the person;

or

performance data of the person that shows unusual improvement over a history of performance for a particular set of games, wherein the game is in the particular set of games.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection is formed over a mobile device network.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the game comprises a web-connected game.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an acknowledgment by the server to the responses which is received by the client device in less than 500 milliseconds.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of data comprises a percentile standing based on score.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the game is based on a live event.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the live event is viewed in person by a person physically attending a location corresponding to the live event.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein information related to the live event is received from a physical location corresponding to the live event.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising implementing one or more lockouts to prevent input.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more lockouts occur immediately before competitors in the contests of skill or chance are able to see relevant live game action unfold.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more lockouts occur immediately before a scoring chance in the one or more events.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more lockouts involve an in-progress play, not during a stoppage, and preventing submitting the response before a critical element of the in-progress play unfolds.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more lockouts apply for a limited amount of time.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more lockouts apply for an action lasting a limited amount of time.

24. A method of detecting unusual performance in a game, the game having a plurality of persons who participate in the game, each on a client device, the method comprising:

receiving via the client device a set of data comprising game elements and a threshold value for the game;

selecting a sampling group of persons participating in the game, the sampling group comprising a subset of all persons participating in the game;

receiving responses to the game elements from the client devices of the sampling group;

utilizing the responses received from the sampling group at a server during the game to determine the threshold value for the game; and

based on the threshold value for the game, determining if a two-way connection with the server and one or more of the client devices should be established in order to further investigate unusual performance in the game.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein establishing the two-way connection further comprises switching the one-way connection to the two-way connection.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the switching is performed for a single mobile device.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the two-way connection is formed over a mobile device network.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the set of data comprises one or more of a histogram, percentile and numerical ranking.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising examining the mobile device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein examining the mobile device further comprises:

determining whether the mobile device has been accessed abnormally, or

determining whether data stored by the mobile device has been altered;

or

determining whether the performance metric comprises an anomaly, wherein the anomaly indicates a likelihood of an unfair game.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the game comprises a web-connected game.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein the set of data comprises a percentile standing based on score.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein the game is based on a live event.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the live event is viewed in person by a person physically attending a location corresponding to the live event.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein information related to the live event is received from a physical location corresponding to the live event.

36. The method of claim 24, further comprising implementing one or more lockouts to prevent input.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the one or more lockouts occur immediately before competitors in the contests of skill or chance are able to see relevant live game action unfold.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the one or more lockouts occur immediately before a scoring chance in the one or more events.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the one or more lockouts involve an in-progress play, not during a stoppage, and preventing submitting the response before a critical element of the in-progress play unfolds.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the one or more lockouts apply for a limited amount of time.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the one or more lockouts apply for an action lasting a limited amount of time.

42. A server configured to:

conduct a game for a plurality of persons who participate in the game, each on a client device, and

detect unusual performance in the game among the persons participating in the game by sending game elements and a threshold value,

wherein the threshold value is determined based on responses received from a subset of client devices to each client device participating in the game, and

based on the threshold value, determining if a set of data should be received from the client devices, a set of data to further detect unusual performance in the game.

43. The server of claim 42, wherein the set of data comprises one or more of a histogram, percentile and numerical ranking.

44. The server of claim 42, wherein the set of data is only received from the client devices of persons not in the subset when a performance metric of the person participating on the client device exceeds the threshold value.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the game comprises a web-connected game.

46. The server of claim 42, wherein the set of data comprises a percentile standing based on score.

47. The server of claim 42, wherein the game is based on a live event.

48. The server of claim 47, wherein the live event is viewed in person by a person physically attending a location corresponding to the live event.

49. The server of claim 47, wherein information related to the live event is received from a physical location corresponding to the live event.

50. The server of claim 42, wherein the server implements one or more lockouts to prevent input.

51. The server of claim 50, wherein the one or more lockouts occur immediately before competitors in the contests of skill or chance are able to see relevant live game action unfold.

52. The server of claim 50, wherein the one or more lockouts occur immediately before a scoring chance in the one or more events.

53. The server of claim 50, wherein the one or more lockouts involve an in-progress play, not during a stoppage, and preventing submitting the response before a critical element of the in-progress play unfolds.

54. The server of claim 50, wherein the one or more lockouts apply for a limited amount of time.

55. The server of claim 50, wherein the one or more lockouts apply for an action lasting a limited amount of time.