Interactive networked game

• US 20040248637A1
• Filed: 06/06/2003
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dawid J. Liebenberg, Martin D.U. Toit
• Original Assignee: Dawid J. Liebenberg, Martin D.U. Toit
• Inventors: Liebenberg, Dawid J., du Toit, Martin
• Application Number:
  US10/457,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20040248637A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• 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

This invention allows users to register interests in pre-determinable possible outcomes for a fixed-time event. The system comprises a plurality of remote networked user devices, which include respective displays and input devices such as keypads or keyboards for receiving user inputs in response to information displayed on the display. These devices are connected through a communications network via peer-to-peer and/or via one or more server-based connections. More specifically, the system allows an offering user to offer an interest in a first pre-determinable possible outcome for the fixed time event at a given interest multiplier. It also allows an acquiring user to request an interest in the first pre-determinable possible outcome at the given multiplier. The system then matches the offer and the request to define a commitment by the acquiring user to acquire the requested interest at the given multiplier.

Claims

1. A networked system for allowing users to register interests in at least one of a plurality of pre-determinable possible outcomes for a fixed-time event comprising:

a. a plurality of remote user devices, at least one of which includes

i. a display and

ii. an input configured to receive user inputs in response to information displayed on the display; and

b. a communications network to which the plurality of user devices are connected,

wherein the system is configured to

i. allow an offering user to offer an interest in a first pre-determinable possible outcome for the fixed time event at a given interest multiplier,

ii. allow an acquiring user to request an interest in the first pre-determinable possible outcome at the given multiplier,

iii. match at least a portion of the offer and the request to define a commitment by the acquiring user to acquire the requested interest at the given multiplier, and

iv. giving users an option to exchange, at later time and at a fixed option commitment based on a pre-defined “

strike price” and

the multiplier, an interest in a pre-determinable possible outcome in the fixed time event.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein, if the user is an offering user, the option to exchange an interest in a pre-determinable possible outcome at the fixed option commitment is one or more of the group consisting of

a. an option to acquire the first pre-determinable outcome;

and

b. an option to dispose of a second pre-determinable outcome different from the first pre-determinable possible outcome.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein, if the user is an acquiring user, the option to exchange an interest in a pre-determinable possible outcome at the fixed option commitment is one or more of the group consisting of

a. an option to dispose of the first pre-determinable outcome;

and

b. an option to acquire a second pre-determinable outcome different from the first pre-determinable possible outcome.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein an operator of the networked system defines the strike price.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the interest in the second predetermined possible outcome will yield a net result, being the strike price less the option commitment, if the second possible outcome is realized.

6. The system of claim 1, further configured to allow the respective user to dispose of the acquired interest in the second pre-determinable possible outcome before the end of the fixed time event.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the fixed time event is a sporting event.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to allow a user to confirm an interest with a single interaction on the input.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the acquiring user'"'"'s interest is factored up based on the multiplier if the pre-determinable outcome is realized.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein there are a plurality of offering and acquiring users and wherein the system is further configured to match multiple requests to acquire and offers of the first possible outcome, thereby defining commitments between multiple respective requesters and offerors.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the second pre-determinable outcome is the opposite of the first pre-determinable outcome.

12. The system of claim 5, wherein the interest indicates a price per unit and a number of units.

13. The system of claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of remote devices is from the group consisting of a television receiver and a wireless device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the wireless device is one from the set consisting of a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant and a personal computer.

15. The system of claim 5, wherein the display includes a real time data display of information relating to the fixed time event.

16. The system of claim 5, further including a mechanism to update information on the display at a user-defined interval.

17. A method for allowing users to register interests in at least one of a plurality of pre-determinable possible outcomes for a fixed-time event comprising:

a. linking a plurality of remote users;

b. displaying to at least one of the users, information about the fixed-time event;

c. allowing an offering user to offer an interest in a first pre-determinable possible outcome for the fixed time event at a given interest multiplier,

d. allowing an acquiring user to request an interest in the first pre-determinable possible outcome at the given multiplier,

e. matching at least a portion of the offer and the request to define a commitment by the acquiring user to acquire the requested interest at the given multiplier, and

f. giving users an option to exchange, at later time and at a fixed option commitment based on a pre-defined “

strike price” and

the multiplier, an interest in a pre-determinable possible outcome in the fixed time event.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein, if the user is an offering user, the option to exchange an interest in a pre-determinable possible outcome at the fixed option commitment is one or more of the group consisting of

a. an option to acquire the first pre-determinable outcome;

and

b. an option to dispose of a second pre-determinable outcome different from the first pre-determinable possible outcome.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein, if the user is an acquiring user, the option to exchange an interest in a pre-determinable possible outcome at the fixed option commitment is one or more of the group consisting of

a. an option to dispose of the first pre-determinable outcome;

and

b. an option to acquire a second pre-determinable outcome different from the first pre-determinable possible outcome.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising defining the strike price.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the interest in the second predetermined possible outcome will yield a net result, being the strike price less the option commitment, if the second possible outcome is realized.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the respective user disposes of the acquired interest in the second pre-determinable possible outcome before the end of the fixed time event.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the fixed time event is a sporting event.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the a user confirms an interest with a single interaction on the input.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the acquiring user'"'"'s interest is factored up based on the multiplier if the pre-determinable outcome is realized.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein there are a plurality of offering and acquiring users and wherein match multiple requests to acquire are matched with multiple offers of the first possible outcome, thereby defining commitments between multiple respective requestors and offerors.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the second pre-determinable outcome is the opposite of the first pre-determinable outcome.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the interest indicates a price per unit and a number of units.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the information is displayed to at least one user on a device from the group consisting of a television receiver and a wireless device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the wireless device is one from the set consisting of a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant and a personal computer.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the display includes a real time data display of information relating to the fixed time event.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein the information is updated on a display at a user-defined interval.