Interactive wagering system

• US 20040157660A1
• Filed: 02/02/2004
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ODS Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ODS Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Thomas, William L., McNutt, Richard E., Garahi, Masood, Marshall, Connie T., Boylan, Peter C. III, Ramsey, Douglas V., Hindman, John R.
• Application Number:
  US10/771,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20040157660A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

An interactive wagering system is provided in which users may download electronic racing forms to electronic books. The content of the racing form may be directed toward horse racing. The racing form may be interactive. When a user selects an item from a racing form displayed on the electronic book, the user may be presented with additional information or interactive screens that provide racing-related services such as interactive wagering opportunities. The electronic book may be provided with updated racing data. The user may adjust delivery settings for the racing data. News flashes and other real-time reports may be provided to the electronic book. Such reports may be based on the user'"'"'s preferences and the user'"'"'s monitored interests. The electronic racing form may include racing data, racing articles, and advertisements.

Claims

1. A method for using user equipment, comprising:

electronically downloading a racing form to the user equipment over a communications path, wherein the racing form is substantially similar to a printed racing form;

displaying the racing form on a display of the user equipment; and

providing a user with an opportunity to interact with the racing form by selecting interactive on-screen options being displayed in the racing form.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user equipment comprises user television equipment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user equipment comprises user computer equipment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user equipment comprises user telephone equipment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user equipment comprises handheld computer equipment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user equipment comprises an electronic book.

7. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the racing form is for a horse race.

8. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing the user with an opportunity to use the user equipment to create an electronic wager.

9. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

providing the user with an opportunity to use the user equipment to create an electronic wager; and

providing the user with an opportunity to use the racing form to select a racetrack for the wager.

10. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the racing form includes information on horse owners, horse jockeys, race conditions, and past performances.

11. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing the user with an opportunity to request that the racing form be downloaded to the user equipment.

12. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to interact with the contents of the displayed racing form.

13. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising displaying additional information when the user selects an item on the on-screen option being displayed on the racing form.

14. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising displaying an interactive wager-creation screen for the user when the user selects an item on the on-screen option being displayed on the racing form.

15. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

providing additional information on the display when the user selects one of the on-screen options being displayed in the racing form.

16. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

providing an interactive wagering application service when the user selects one of the on-screen options being displayed in the racing form, wherein the interactive wagering application service is associated with the selection.

17. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising allowing a user to submit a wager created using the user equipment.

18. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising displaying a plurality of interactive category options on the display, wherein each category option may be used to display a different type of racing information.

19. The method defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the on-screen options allow the user to access wager-creation functions.

20. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing racing data to the user equipment in response to a request by the user.

21. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing racing data to the user equipment at predetermined intervals.

22. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing racing data to the user equipment at user-selected intervals.

23. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

providing the user with an opportunity to adjust racing data delivery settings; and

delivering the racing data to the user equipment for display as part of the racing form using the delivery settings.

24. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising displaying a racing-related news flash on the display of the user equipment.

25. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising displaying a racing-related news flash on the display of the user equipment over existing content.

26. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing real-time reports to the user equipment based on the user'"'"'s preferences.

27. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing real-time reports to the user based on the user'"'"'s monitored activities.

28. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising displaying information with the electronic book that is related to the user'"'"'s monitored wagering activities.

29. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing racing articles in the racing form.

30. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing advertisements in the racing form.

31. An interactive wagering system comprising user equipment that has a display and that is configured to:

electronically download a racing form to the user equipment over a communications path, wherein the racing form is substantially similar to a printed racing form;

display the racing form on the display of the user equipment; and

provide a user with an opportunity to interact with the racing form by selecting interactive on-screen options being displayed in the racing form.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the user equipment comprises user television equipment.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the user equipment comprises user computer equipment.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the user equipment comprises user telephone equipment.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the user equipment comprises handheld computer equipment.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the user equipment comprises an electronic book.

37. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the racing form is for a horse race.

38. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to provide the user with an opportunity to use the user equipment to create an electronic wager.

39. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to:

provide the user with an opportunity to use the user equipment to create an electronic wager; and

provide the user with an opportunity to use the racing form to select a racetrack for the wager.

40. The system defined in claim 31, wherein the racing form includes information on horse owners, horse jockeys, race conditions, and past performances.

41. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to provide the user with an opportunity to request that the racing form be downloaded to the user equipment.

42. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to allow the user to interact with the contents of the displayed racing form.

43. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to display additional information when the user selects an item on the on-screen option being displayed on the racing form.

44. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to display an interactive wager-creation screen for the user when the user selects an item on the on-screen option being displayed on the racing form.

45. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to provide additional information on the display when the user selects one of the on-screen options being displayed in the racing form.

46. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to provide an interactive wagering application service when the user selects one of the on-screen options being displayed in the racing form, wherein the interactive wagering application service is associated with the selection.

47. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to allow a user to submit a wager created using the user equipment.

48. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is further configured to display a plurality of interactive category options on the display, wherein each category option may be used to display a different type of racing information.

49. The system defined in claim 31 wherein at least one of the on-screen options allow the user to access wager-creation functions.

50. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to provide racing data to the user equipment in response to a request by the user.

51. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to provide racing data to the user equipment at predetermined intervals.

52. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to provide racing data to the user equipment at user-selected intervals.

53. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to:

provide the user with an opportunity to adjust racing data delivery settings; and

deliver the racing data to the user equipment for display as part of the racing form using the delivery settings.

54. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to display a racing-related news flash on the display of the user equipment.

55. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to display a racing-related news flash on the display of the user equipment over existing content.

56. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to provide real-time reports to the user equipment based on the user'"'"'s preferences.

57. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to provide real-time reports to the user based on the user'"'"'s monitored activities.

58. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to display information with the electronic book that is related to the user'"'"'s monitored wagering activities.

59. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to provide racing articles in the racing form.

60. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the user equipment is configured to provide advertisements in the racing form.

61. An interactive wagering system comprising user equipment, the system comprising:

means for electronically downloading a racing form to the user equipment over a communications path, wherein the racing form is substantially similar to a printed racing form;

means for displaying the racing form on a display of the user equipment; and

means for providing a user with an opportunity to interact with the racing form by selecting interactive on-screen options being displayed in the racing form.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the user equipment comprises user television equipment.

63. The system of claim 61, wherein the user equipment comprises user computer equipment.

64. The system of claim 61, wherein the user equipment comprises user telephone equipment.

65. The system of claim 61, wherein the user equipment comprises handheld computer equipment.

66. The system of claim 61, wherein the user equipment comprises an electronic book.

67. The system defined in claim 61 wherein the racing form is for a horse race.

68. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising means for providing the user with an opportunity to use the user equipment to create an electronic wager.

69. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising:

means for providing the user with an opportunity to use the user equipment to create an electronic wager; and

means for providing the user with an opportunity to use the racing form to select a racetrack for the wager.

70. The system defined in claim 61, wherein the racing form includes information on horse owners, horse jockeys, race conditions, and past performances.

71. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising means for providing the user with an opportunity to request that the racing form be downloaded to the user equipment.

72. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising means for allowing the user to interact with the contents of the displayed racing form.

73. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising means for displaying additional information when the user selects an item on the on-screen option being displayed on the racing form.

74. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising means for displaying an interactive wager-creation screen for the user when the user selects an item on the on-screen option being displayed on the racing form.

75. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising:

means for providing additional information on the display when the user selects one of the on-screen options being displayed in the racing form.

76. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising means for providing an interactive wagering application service when the user selects one of the on-screen options being displayed in the racing form, wherein the interactive wagering application service is associated with the selection.

77. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising means for allowing a user to submit a wager created using the user equipment.

78. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising means for displaying a plurality of interactive category options on the display, wherein each category option may be used to display a different type of racing information.

79. The system defined in claim 61 wherein at least one of the on-screen options allow the user to access wager-creation functions.

80. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising means for providing racing data to the user equipment in response to a request by the user.

81. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising means for providing racing data to the user equipment at predetermined intervals.

82. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising means for providing racing data to the user equipment at user-selected intervals.

83. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising:

means for providing the user with an opportunity to adjust racing data delivery settings; and

means for delivering the racing data to the user equipment for display as part of the racing form using the delivery settings.

84. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising means for displaying a racing-related news flash on the display of the user equipment.

85. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising means for displaying a racing-related news flash on the display of the user equipment over existing content.

86. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising means for providing real-time reports to the user equipment based on the user'"'"'s preferences.

87. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising means for providing real-time reports to the user based on the user'"'"'s monitored activities.

88. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising means for displaying information with the electronic book that is related to the user'"'"'s monitored wagering activities.

89. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising means for providing racing articles in the racing form.

90. The system defined in claim 61 further comprising means for providing advertisements in the racing form.

91. A machine-readable medium encoded with machine-readable instructions for use in an interactive wagering system comprising user equipment that has a display, the machine-readable instructions configured to:

electronically download a racing form to the user equipment over a communications path, wherein the racing form is substantially similar to a printed racing form;

display the racing form on the display of the user equipment; and

provide a user with an opportunity to interact with the racing form by selecting interactive on-screen options being displayed in the racing form.

92. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, wherein the user equipment comprises user television equipment.

93. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, wherein the user equipment comprises user computer equipment.

94. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, wherein the user equipment comprises user telephone equipment.

95. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, wherein the user equipment comprises handheld computer equipment.

96. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, wherein the user equipment comprises an electronic book.

97. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, wherein the racing form is for a horse race.

98. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to provide the user with an opportunity to use the user equipment to create an electronic wager.

99. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to:

provide the user with an opportunity to use the user equipment to create an electronic wager; and

provide the user with an opportunity to use the racing form to select a racetrack for the wager.

100. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, wherein the racing form includes information on horse owners, horse jockeys, race conditions, and past performances.

101. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to provide the user with an opportunity to request that the racing form be downloaded to the user equipment.

102. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to allow the user to interact with the contents of the displayed racing form.

103. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to display additional information when the user selects an item on the on-screen option being displayed on the racing form.

104. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to display an interactive wager-creation screen for the user when the user selects an item on the on-screen option being displayed on the racing form.

105. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to provide additional information on the display when the user selects one of the on-screen options being displayed in the racing form.

106. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to provide an interactive wagering application service when the user selects one of the on-screen options being displayed in the racing form, wherein the interactive wagering application service is associated with the selection.

107. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to allow a user to submit a wager created using the user equipment.

108. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to display a plurality of interactive category options on the display, wherein each category option may be used to display a different type of racing information.

109. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, wherein at least one of the on-screen options allow the user to access wager-creation functions.

110. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to provide racing data to the user equipment in response to a request by the user.

111. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to provide racing data to the user equipment at predetermined intervals.

112. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to provide racing data to the user equipment at user-selected intervals.

113. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to:

provide the user with an opportunity to adjust racing data delivery settings; and

deliver the racing data to the user equipment for display as part of the racing form using the delivery settings.

114. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to display a racing-related news flash on the display of the user equipment.

115. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to display a racing-related news flash on the display of the user equipment over existing content.

116. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to provide real-time reports to the user equipment based on the user'"'"'s preferences.

117. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to provide real-time reports to the user based on the user'"'"'s monitored activities.

118. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to display information with the electronic book that is related to the user'"'"'s monitored wagering activities.

119. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to provide racing articles in the racing form.

120. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, the machine-readable instructions further configured to provide advertisements in the racing form.