System and method for providing a multiple-stage contest
First Claim
1. A method of providing a multiple-stage contest, comprising:
- at each of a plurality of stages in a contest, causing a portion of a plurality of contest entries eligible to win the contest to become ineligible to win the contest; and
determining at least one winning contest entry from one or more contest entries remaining eligible after the plurality of stages.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of providing a multiple-stage contest is provided. A plurality of contest entries eligible to win a multiple-stage contest are sold to a plurality of contestants, each contest entry being defined at least by a set of one or more distinct identifiers. At each stage in the multiple-stage contest, one or more determinations regarding the distinct identifiers are made, which determinations cause a portion of the contest entries remaining eligible at that stage to become ineligible to win the contest. A market may be provided for contest entries remaining eligible after at least one of the plurality of stages. At least one winning contest entry is determined from one or more contest entries remaining eligible after the multiple stages of the contest. A competition may be held among contestants holding eligible contest entries to determine one or more winners. An award for each winning contest entry may be determined based on the revenues received from selling the plurality of contest entries.
148 Citations
36 Claims
-
1. A method of providing a multiple-stage contest, comprising:
-
at each of a plurality of stages in a contest, causing a portion of a plurality of contest entries eligible to win the contest to become ineligible to win the contest; and
determining at least one winning contest entry from one or more contest entries remaining eligible after the plurality of stages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A method of providing a multiple-stage contest, comprising:
-
selling a plurality of contest entries eligible to win a contest to a plurality of contestants, each contest entry being defined at least by one or more distinct identifiers;
at each of a plurality of stages in the contest, making one or more determinations regarding at least one of the distinct identifiers defining at least a portion of the contest entries, the one or more determinations causing a portion of the eligible contest entries to become ineligible to win the contest;
providing a market for buying and selling contest entries remaining eligible after at least one of the plurality of stages;
determining at least one winning contest entry from one or more contest entries remaining eligible after the plurality of stages;
determining an award for each of the at least one winning contest entry based at least on the revenues received from selling the plurality of contest entries. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. A system for providing a multiple-stage contest, comprising:
-
a memory operable to store information associated with a plurality of contest entries; and
a processor coupled to the memory and operable, at each of a plurality of stages in a contest, to cause a portion of the plurality of contest entries eligible to win the contest to become ineligible to win the contest. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
-
Specification