Gaming event management system

• US 20090023494A1
• Filed: 07/18/2007
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CBS Interactive Inc. (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Original Assignee: CNET Networks Incorporated (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Inventors: Parker, Sam, Colletti, Todd, Schlenker, Ethan
• Granted Patent: US 8,920,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system

Abstract

An event management architecture (EMA) for managing gaming events includes a plurality of sub-events associated with a gaming event. Each sub-event has at least one sub-event participant and provides a sub-event score to each sub-event participant according to a set of sub-event rules during a sub-event interval. A scheduling coordinator schedules, for each sub-event, the sub-event interval. A registration coordinator registers, for each sub-event, each participant. A scoring processor records, for each sub-event, the sub-event score for each participant, where the sub-event score is converted into a standard format. Each sub-event may be associated with a generic sub-event container, which takes advantage of the common characteristics or functionality requirements of the sub-events to facilitate the management of the sub-events. The EMA minimizes the need to administer the events individually, and can be scalably used to manage complex arrangements of interdependent sub-events of varying types.

Claims

1. A system for managing gaming events, the system comprising:

a plurality of sub-events associated with a gaming event, each sub-event having at least one sub-event participant and providing a sub-event score to the at least one sub-event participant according to a set of sub-event rules during a sub-event interval;

a scheduling coordinator adapted to schedule, for each sub-event, the sub-event interval;

a registration coordinator adapted to register, for each sub-event, the at least one sub-event participant; and

a scoring processor adapted to record, for each sub-event, the sub-event score for the at least one sub-event participant, the sub-event score being converted into a standard format.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sub-events includes a first sub-event having a first set of sub-event rules and a second sub-event having a second set of sub-event rules, the first set of sub-event rules being different from the second set of sub-event rules.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sub-events includes a first sub-event providing a first sub-event score with a first score format and a second sub-event providing a second sub-event score with a second score format, the first score format being different from the second score format, and the scoring processor converts the first sub-event score and the second sub-event score into the standard format.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sub-events includes a first sub-event having a first sub-event interval and a second sub-event having a second sub-event interval, and the scheduling coordinator schedules the second sub-event interval to begin after the first sub-event interval is completed.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the registration coordinator registers, for each sub-event, the at least one sub-event participant during a registration interval, and the scheduling coordinator further schedules, for each sub-event, the registration interval.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the scheduling coordinator schedules the sub-event interval for at least one of the plurality of sub-events to begin after the registration interval is completed for the at least one of the plurality of sub-events.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the scheduling coordinator schedules the sub-event interval for at least one of the plurality of sub-events to begin before the registration interval is completed for the at least one of the plurality of sub-events.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sub-events includes at least one independent sub-event, and registration, by the registration coordinator, of the at least one sub-event participant in the at least one independent sub-event is independent of participation by the at least one sub-event participant in other sub-events.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sub-events includes at least one prerequisite sub-event and a dependent sub-event, and the registration, by the registration coordinator, of the at least one sub-event participant in the dependent sub-event depends on participation by the at least one sub-event participant in the at least one prerequisite sub-event.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein registration, by the registration coordinator, of the at least one sub-event participant in the dependent sub-event further requires the at least one sub-event participant to satisfy participation criteria associated with the at least one prerequisite sub-event.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein registration, by the registration coordinator, of the at least one sub-event participant in the dependent sub-event further requires the at least one sub-event participant to have at least one of a minimum score, a minimum qualifying percentile, and a minimum ranking from each of the at least one prerequisite sub-event.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein registration, by the registration coordinator, of the at least one sub-event participant in the dependent sub-event participant further requires the at least one sub-event participant to have a minimum pooled score determined from the at least one prerequisite sub-event.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein, before the minimum pooled score is determined for the at least one sub-event participant, a weighting factor is applied, for each prerequisite sub-event, to the sub-event score for the at least one sub-event participant.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the pooled score is the average score from the at least one prerequisite sub-event.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sub-event score includes at least one of a raw score, a percentile placement, and a rank position.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sub-events includes at least one sub-event that occurs through a standalone system.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the scheduling coordinator synchronizes scheduling with the standalone system.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sub-events is associated with a common container.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the container is associated with persistent records in a database.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein standardized promotion for the plurality of sub-events is provided via the standard container.

21. The system according to claim 18, wherein an online chat element is provided via the standard container.

22. The system according to claim 18, wherein a video broadcasting element is provided via the standard container.

23. The system according to claim 18, wherein a mini-game element is provided via the standard container.

24. The system according to claim 18, wherein a notification element is provided via the standard container.

25. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one participant for each sub-event is associated with persistent records in a database.

26. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a central administrative tool.

27. The system according to claim 1, wherein the gaming event is electronic.

28. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the sub-events is electronic.

29. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the registration coordinator, the scheduling coordinator, and the scoring processor operates on a computer device.

30. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an interface for viewing data for the gaming event.

31. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a content management tool managing electronically displayed content associated with the gaming event.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein the content management tool manages a display layer for the gaming event or the sub-events.

33. The system according to claim 31, wherein the content management tool generates customizable display templates.

34. The system according to claim 31, wherein the content management tool manages display of at least one of contextual information and custom display elements associated with multiple time-bound states of the gaming event.

35. The system according to claim 31, wherein the content management tool manages display content according to types of viewers.

36. The system according to claim 31, wherein the content management tool manages promotional content.

37. A method for managing gaming events, the method comprising:

identifying a plurality of sub-events associated with a gaming event, each sub-event having at least one sub-event participant and providing a sub-event score to the at least one sub-event participant according to a set of sub-event rules during a sub-event interval;

registering, for each sub-event, the at least one sub-event participant;

scheduling, for each sub-event, the sub-event interval;

converting, for each sub-event, the sub-event score for the at least one sub-event participant into a standard format; and

recording, for each sub-event, the sub-event score in the standard format.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the plurality of sub-events includes a first sub-event having a first set of sub-event rules and a second sub-event having a second set of sub-event rules, the first set of sub-event rules being different from the second set of sub-event rules.

39. The method according to claim 37, wherein the plurality of sub-events includes a first sub-event providing a first sub-event score with a first score format and a second sub-event providing a second sub-event score with a second score format, the first score format being different from the second score format, and the step of converting includes converting the first sub-event score and the second sub-event score into the standard format.

40. The method according to claim 37, wherein the plurality of sub-events includes a first sub-event having a first sub-event interval and a second sub-event having a second sub-event interval, and the step of scheduling includes scheduling the second sub-event interval to begin after the first sub-event interval is completed.

41. The method according to claim 37, wherein the step of scheduling includes scheduling the sub-event interval for at least one of the plurality of sub-events to begin after the registration interval is completed for the at least one of the plurality of sub-events.

42. The method according to claim 37, wherein the step of scheduling includes scheduling the sub-event interval for at least one of the plurality of sub-events to begin before the registration interval is completed for the at least one of the plurality of sub-events.

43. The method according to claim 37, wherein the step of converting, for each sub-event, the sub-event score for the at least one sub-event participant into a standard format includes normalizing the sub-event score.

44. The method according to claim 37, wherein the plurality of sub-events includes at least one independent sub-event, and registering at least one sub-event participant in the at least one independent sub-event is independent of participation by the at least one sub-event participant in other sub-events.

45. The method according to claim 37, wherein the plurality of sub-events includes at least one prerequisite sub-event and a dependent sub-event, and registering at least one sub-event participant in the dependent sub-event depends on participation by the at least one sub-event participant in the at least one prerequisite sub-event.

46. The method according to claim 45, wherein registering at least one sub-event participant in the dependent sub-event further requires at least one sub-event participant to satisfy criteria associated with the at least one prerequisite sub-event.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein registering at least one sub-event participant in the dependent sub-event further requires the at least one sub-event participant to have at least one of a minimum score, a minimum qualifying percentile, and a minimum ranking from each of the at least one prerequisite sub-event.

48. The method according to claim 46, further comprising determining, from the at least one prerequisite sub-event, a pooled score for the at least one sub-event participant, wherein registering at least one sub-event participant in the dependent sub-event participant further requires the at least one sub-event participant to have a minimum pooled score.

49. The method according to claim 48, further comprising, before the step of determining the minimum pooled score for the at least one sub-event participant, applying a weighting factor, for each prerequisite sub-event, to the sub-event score for the at least one sub-event participant.

50. The method according to claim 48, wherein the step of determining, from the at least one prerequisite sub-event, a pooled score comprises averaging, for the at least one sub-event participant, the sub-event score from the at least one prerequisite sub-event.

51. The method according to claim 37, wherein the sub-event score includes at least one of a raw score, a percentile placement, and a rank position.

52. The method according to claim 37, wherein the plurality of sub-events includes at least one sub-event that occurs through a standalone system.

53. The method according to claim 52, wherein the step of scheduling includes synchronizing a schedule with the standalone system.

54. The method according to claim 37, further comprising associating each of the plurality of sub-events with a common container.

55. The method according to claim 54, further comprising storing persistent records for the standard container.

56. The method according to claim 54, further comprising providing standardized promotion via the container.

57. The method according to claim 54, further comprising providing an online chat element via the container.

58. The method according to claim 54, further comprising providing a video broadcasting element via the container.

59. The method according to claim 54, further comprising providing a video broadcasting element via the container.

60. The method according to claim 54, further comprising providing a notification element via the container.

61. The method according to claim 37, further comprising storing persistent records for the at least one sub-event participant.

62. The method according to claim 37, wherein the gaming event is electronic.

63. The method according to claim 37, wherein at least one of the sub-events is electronic.

64. The method according to claim 37, wherein at least one of the step of registering, the step of scheduling, the step of converting, and the step of recording comprises executing instructions on a computer.

65. The method according to claim 37, further comprising providing an interface for viewing data for the gaming event.

66. The method according to claim 37, further comprising centrally managing electronically displayed content associated with the gaming event.

67. The method according to claim 66, wherein the step of centrally managing electronically displayed content associated with the gaming event includes managing a display layer for the gaming event or the sub-events.

68. The method according to claim 66, wherein the step of centrally managing electronically displayed content associated with the gaming event includes generating customizable display templates.

69. The method according to claim 66, wherein the step of centrally managing electronically displayed content associated with the gaming event includes displaying at least one of contextual information and custom display elements associated with multiple time-bound states of the gaming event.

70. The method according to claim 66, wherein the step of centrally managing electronically displayed content associated with the gaming event includes displaying content according to types of viewers.

71. The method according to claim 66, wherein the step of centrally managing electronically displayed content associated with the gaming event includes managing promotional content.