SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ADVERTISEMENTS IN A FANTASY SPORTS CONTEST APPLICATION

• US 20100179867A1
• Filed: 12/08/2009
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Hughes, Patrick J., Barber, Dave
• Granted Patent: US 8,296,794 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.500
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26241 involving the time of distribution, e.g. the best time of the day for inserting an advertisement or airing a children program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and methods are presented for presenting advertisements to users of a fantasy sports contest application. Advertisements are displayed in conjunction with fantasy sports contest information and may be interactive in nature. The advertisements may be used to inform the user of prizes being awarded for performance in the fantasy sports contest, including prizes being awarded for performing in an instant scoring opportunity based on real-time action in a related sports broadcast. The advertisements may be intelligently scheduled around certain events in a related sports broadcast to take advantage of user purchasing habits. The advertisements may be selected according to a user profile. The user profile may include information on the user'"'"'s demonstrated interests, which may be determined using the user'"'"'s preferences in the fantasy contest, prior television viewing habits, and other suitable information. The advertisements may be targeted to the user'"'"'s specific geographic location. The advertisements may also be used to inform a user of an awarded prize, and to enable the user to claim the awarded prize.

Claims

1. A method for providing advertisements on a display screen to a user using a fantasy sports contest application, the method comprising:

storing information on timing of past purchases made by the user relative to sporting events;

receiving an event status of a sporting event;

scheduling at least one advertisement to be displayed on the display screen at an appropriate time based on the received event status of the sporting event and the information on the timing of the past purchases made by the user relative to sporting events; and

displaying simultaneously on the display screen at the appropriate time a broadcast of the sporting event, fantasy sports contest information associated with the user for a fantasy sports contest, and the at least one advertisement.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the at least one advertisement comprises displaying at least one interactive advertisement.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the fantasy sports contest information associated with the user for the fantasy sports contest comprises displaying fantasy sports contest information that enables the user to perform an action in the fantasy sports contest.

113. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining the appropriate time from the information on the timing of the past purchases made by the user relative to sporting events, wherein the appropriate time is determined within a time period inclusive of a particular game-related event corresponding to the received event status.

114. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the event status of the sporting event comprises receiving the event status of the sporting event in a vertical blanking interval of a television signal that includes the broadcast of the sporting event.

115. The method of claim 1, wherein scheduling at least one advertisement to be displayed comprises scheduling at least one advertisement to be displayed that is categorized for the event status of the sporting event.

116. The method of claim 1 further comprising requesting a plurality of advertisements categorized for the event status of the sporting event in response to receiving the event status of the sporting event, wherein scheduling at least one advertisement to be displayed comprises scheduling at least one of the plurality of advertisements categorized for the event status of the sporting event to be displayed.

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

6-56. -56. (canceled)

57. A computer readable medium encoded with machine-readable instructions for providing advertisements on a display screen to a user of a fantasy sports contest application, the machine-readable instructions comprising:

storing information on timing of past purchases made by the user relative to sporting events;

receiving an event status of a sporting event;

scheduling at least one advertisement to be displayed on the display screen at an appropriate time based on the received event status of the sporting event and the information on the timing of the past purchases made by the user relative to sporting events; and

displaying simultaneously on the display screen at the appropriate time a broadcast of the sporting event, fantasy sports contest information associated with the user for a fantasy sports contest, and the at least one advertisement.

58. The computer readable medium of claim 57 wherein the machine-readable instructions for displaying the at least one advertisement comprises machine-readable instructions for displaying at least one interactive advertisement.

61. The computer readable medium of claim 57 wherein the machine-readable instructions for displaying the fantasy sports contest information associated with the user for the fantasy sports contest comprises machine-readable instructions for displaying fantasy sports contest information that enables the user to perform an action in the fantasy sports contest.

117. The computer readable medium of claim 57, wherein the machine-readable instructions further comprise determining the appropriate time from the information on the timing of the past purchases made by the user relative to sporting events, wherein the appropriate time is determined within a time period inclusive of a particular game-related event corresponding to the received event status.

118. The computer readable medium of claim 57, wherein the machine-readable instructions for receiving the event status of the sporting event comprise machine-readable instructions for receiving the event status of the sporting event in a vertical blanking interval of a television signal that includes the broadcast of the sporting event.

119. The computer readable medium of claim 57, wherein the machine-readable instructions for scheduling at least one advertisement to be displayed comprise machine-readable instructions for scheduling at least one advertisement to be displayed that is categorized for the event status of the sporting event.

120. The computer readable medium of claim 57, wherein the machine-readable instructions further comprise requesting a plurality of advertisements categorized for the event status of the sporting event in response to receiving the event status of the sporting event, wherein the machine-readable instructions for scheduling at least one advertisement to be displayed comprise machine-readable instructions for scheduling at least one of the plurality of advertisements categorized for the event status of the sporting event to be displayed.

59. (canceled)

60. (canceled)

62-84. -84. (canceled)

85. A system for providing advertisements on a display screen to a user using a fantasy sports contest application, the system comprising:

a user input device;

a user output device comprising the display screen;

memory for storing information on timing of past purchases made by the user relative to sporting events;

a receiver for receiving an event status of a sporting event; and

processing circuitry configured to;

schedule at least one advertisement to be displayed on the display screen at an appropriate time based on the received event status of the sporting event and the information on the timing of the past purchases made by the user relative to sporting events; and

display, simultaneously on the display screen at the appropriate time, a broadcast of the sporting event, fantasy sports contest information associated with the user for a fantasy sports contest, and the at least one advertisement.

86. The system of claim 85 wherein the processing circuitry configured to display the at least one advertisement comprises processing circuitry configured to display at least one interactive advertisement.

89. The system of claim 85 wherein the processing circuitry configured to display the fantasy sports contest information associated with the user for the fantasy sports contest comprises processing circuitry configured to display fantasy sports contest information that enables the user to perform an action in the fantasy sports contest.

121. The system of claim 85, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine the appropriate time from the information on the timing of the past purchases made by the user relative to sporting events, wherein the appropriate time is determined within a time period inclusive of a particular game-related event corresponding to the received event status.

122. The system of claim 85, wherein the receiver for receiving the event status of the sporting event is further configured to receive the event status of the sporting event in a vertical blanking interval of a television signal that includes the broadcast of the sporting event.

123. The system of claim 85, wherein the processing circuitry configured to schedule at least one advertisement to be displayed comprises processing circuitry configured to schedule at least one advertisement to be displayed that is categorized for the event status of the sporting event.

124. The system of claim 85, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to request a plurality of advertisements categorized for the event status of the sporting event in response to receiving the event status of the sporting event with the receiver, wherein the processing circuitry configured to schedule at least one advertisement to be displayed comprises processing circuitry configured to schedule at least one of the plurality of advertisements categorized for the event status of the sporting event to be displayed.

87. (canceled)

88. (canceled)

90-112. -112. (canceled)