METHOD AND INTERFACE SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING ACCESS TO FANTASY SPORTS LEAGUES

• US 20050159220A1
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 970198 Alberta Limited Doing Business As Statsfone
• Original Assignee: 970198 Alberta Limited Doing Business As Statsfone
• Inventors: WILSON, GORDON, SIMPSON, TODD G.
• Application Number:
  US10/905,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20050159220A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 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 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• 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 13/424 involving acoustic input signals, e.g. by using the results of pitch or rhythm extraction or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/828 Managing virtual sport teams

Abstract

A multi-modal interface for facilitating access to an interactive sports contest using a telephony-based device, comprising an interactive voice recognition system and a central processing unit which can provide access to a database of contestants and a database of players of interest, wherein a contestant in the interactive sports contest can register, select a virtual team of players and manage the team through the multi-modal interface. Due to the ubiquitous nature of telephony-based devices, contestants can interact with interactive sports contests such as fantasy sports leagues in a timely, user-friendly and possibly personalized fashion. The multi-modal interface can be configured to accept voice-only commands from contestants, as well as provide contestants with notifications of statistics or events at a predetermined time and frequency. The notification can also be sent using a telephony-based device-specific format.

Claims

1. A multi-modal interface for facilitating access to an interactive sports contest using a telephony-based device, comprising

(a) an interactive voice recognition system;

and

(b) a central processing unit which provides access to a database of contestants and a database of players of interest, wherein a contestant in the interactive sports contest can register, select a virtual team of players and manage the team through the multi-modal interface.

2. The interface of claim 1, wherein the contestant can query the databases using voice-only commands.

3. The interface of claim 1, wherein the contestant can make transactions using voice-only commands.

4. The interface of claim 1, wherein the interactive voice recognition system comprises a voice recognition engine and a text-to-speech engine.

5. The interface of claim 1, wherein the interface further comprises a billing system.

6. The interface of claim 1, wherein the interface facilitates access to the interactive sports contest using a location-based system.

7. A method for facilitating access for contestants to an interactive sports contest, which method comprises the steps of:

(a) providing a multi-modal interface comprising an interactive voice response system to which the contestants can connect using telephony-based devices;

(b) using the interactive voice response system, recording voice-only commands from the contestants for registration, team selection and management transactions;

(c) storing recorded information in a database of registered contestants; and

(d) responding to the voice-only queries of contestants and sending requested information in a format optimized for the telephony-based devices of the contestants.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the requested information is sent by voice.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the requested information is sent by voice message.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the requested information is sent by a web interface.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises charging a fee for each transaction and query made by the contestants.

12. A system for sending a notification of data or events to a contestant in an interactive sports contest through a telephony-based device, comprising:

(a) a database of contestants registered with the interactive sports contest;

(b) a database of data on professional sports players;

(c) an interactive voice recognition system; and

(d) a central processing unit.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the contestant can configure which data and events will trigger sending the notification.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the database of contestants contains instructions by the contestants on the type and frequency of the requested notification.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the notification is sent daily.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the notification is sent by voice.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the notification is sent by voice message.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the notification is sent by a messaging interface.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the notification is sent through a web interface.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the notification is sent in almost real time.