Method for Conducting an Online Contest

• US 20100298038A1
• Filed: 05/21/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Everett Page
• Original Assignee: Everett Page
• Inventors: Page, Everett
• Granted Patent: US 8,348,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/9
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

A method for conducting an online contest involving “fantasy” type sporting games through the use of bracketing rules such that a player can employ decision-making via strategic moves as well as by mathematical equation. The method integrates hundreds of thousands of fantasy players into a unitary online contest where each fantasy player seeks to advance through various brackets in order to win prizes derived from the mass amount of entry fees.

Claims

1. A method for conducting an online contest, comprising:

providing each contestant with 12 separate entries;

connecting contestant data, real-world statistical information, primary brackets and secondary brackets with at least one integrated server;

placing each of the 12 separate entries into the secondary brackets;

populating all of the secondary brackets with 12 teams;

conducting a draft such that each of the 12 separate entries of the contestant will include 12 draft positions that are different from each other;

beginning a first round through setting a roster for each of the 12 entries based on real-world data acquired in the draft and subsequent acquisitions, the roster being set for each of a first week, a second week, and a third week;

accumulating points in each of the 12 entries based on weekly performance of the real-world data being used in each of the 12 entries;

calculating a highest points total for each of the secondary brackets, with the contestants with the highest point total in each of the secondary brackets advancing to a second round;

placing each of the contestants that had the highest point total in each of the secondary brackets into new secondary brackets;

conducting a second draft;

setting a second round roster for each of the contestants remaining, with entries based on real-world data acquired in the second draft and subsequent acquisitions, the second round roster being set for each of a fourth week, a fifth week, and a sixth week;

calculating a highest points total for each of the secondary brackets, with the contestants with the highest point total in each of the secondary brackets advancing to a third round;

conducting a third draft;

setting a third round roster for each of the contestants remaining, with entries based on real-world data acquired in the third draft and subsequent acquisitions, the third round roster being set for each of a seventh week, eighth week, ninth week, and tenth week;

calculating a highest points total for each of the secondary brackets, with the contestants with the highest point total in each of the secondary brackets advancing into quarterfinal brackets in a quarterfinal round;

conducting a quarterfinal draft;

setting a quarterfinal round roster for each of the contestants remaining, with entries based on real-world data acquired in the quarterfinal draft and subsequent acquisitions, the quarterfinal round roster being set for each of an eleventh week, a twelfth week, a thirteenth week, and a fourteenth week;

calculating a highest points total for each of the quarterfinal brackets, with the contestants with the highest point total in each of the quarterfinal brackets advancing to a semi-final bracket in a semi-final round;

conducting a semi-final draft;

setting a semi-final round roster for each of the contestants remaining, with entries based on real-world data acquired in the semi-final draft and subsequent acquisitions, the semi-final round roster being set for the remainder of a regular season;

calculating a highest points total for each of the semi-final brackets, with the contestants with the highest point total in each of the semi-final brackets advancing to a final bracket in a final round;

conducting the final round during a following season;

conducting a final draft;

setting a final round roster for each of the contestants remaining, with entries based on real-world data acquired in the final draft and subsequent acquisitions, the final round roster being set each week until a conclusion of the following season; and

awarding a winner based on highest points accumulated during the final round.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising entering the contestant data and participating upon submitting an entry fee.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising placing the entry fee submitted by each contestant into a pot.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising placing the entry fee submitted by each contestant into a pot, the pot being an accumulation of the entry fee submitted by each contestant and recorded in the at least one integrated server.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising awarding a winner prize money from the pot.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising participating via a computing device that is connected to the at least one integrated server.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising employing at least one kiosk for use by the contestant, the at least one kiosk being connected to the at least one integrated server.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising fitting 248,832 entries into the secondary brackets of the first round.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising creating 144 total brackets.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising creating 12 primary brackets.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising creating 1,728 leagues from which the secondary brackets branch off.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising moving from the first round through the third round with the secondary brackets.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising establishing winners of the third round to be winners of the secondary brackets.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising moving the winners of the secondary brackets into the primary brackets, the primary brackets beginning to be populated by the contestants in the quarterfinals.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising establishing winners of the semi-finals to be winners of the primary brackets.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing each team that advances to a subsequent round into leagues that are populated with other teams that had a same draft order position in a previous round.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising placing each team that advances to a subsequent round into leagues that are populated with other teams that were closest to the same draft order position in the previous round, when all of the other teams that had the same draft order position in the previous round already are placed.

18. A method for conducting an online contest, comprising:

providing each contestant with 12 separate entries;

connecting contestant data, real-world statistical information, primary brackets and secondary brackets with at least one integrated server;

placing each of the 12 separate entries into the secondary brackets;

populating all of the secondary brackets with 12 teams;

conducting a draft such that each of the 12 separate entries of the contestant will include 12 draft positions that are different from each other;

beginning a first round through setting a roster for each of the 12 entries based on real-world data acquired in the draft and subsequent acquisitions, the roster being set for each of a first week, a second week, and a third week;

accumulating points in each of the 12 entries based on weekly performance of the real-world data being used in each of the 12 entries;

calculating a highest points total for each of the secondary brackets, with the contestant with the highest point total in each of the secondary brackets advancing to a second round;

placing each of the contestants that had the highest point total in each of the secondary brackets into new secondary brackets;

conducting a second draft;

setting a second round roster for each of the contestants remaining, with entries based on real-world data acquired in the second draft and subsequent acquisitions, the second round roster being set for each of a fourth week, a fifth week, and a sixth week;

calculating a highest points total for each of the secondary brackets, with the contestant with the highest point total in each of the secondary brackets advancing to a third round;

conducting a third draft;

setting a third round roster for each of the contestants remaining, with entries based on real-world data acquired in the third draft and subsequent acquisitions, the third round roster being set for each of a seventh week, eighth week, ninth week, and tenth week;

calculating a highest points total for each of the secondary brackets, with the contestant with the highest point total in each of the secondary brackets advancing into quarterfinal brackets in a quarterfinal round;

conducting a quarterfinal draft;

setting a quarterfinal round roster for each of the contestants remaining, with entries based on real-world data acquired in the quarterfinal draft and subsequent acquisitions, the quarterfinal round roster being set for each of an eleventh week, a twelfth week, a thirteenth week, and a fourteenth week;

calculating a highest points total for each of the quarterfinal brackets, with the contestant with the highest point total in each of the quarterfinal brackets advancing to a semi-final bracket in a semi-final round;

conducting a semi-final draft;

setting a semi-final round roster for each of the contestants remaining, with entries based on real-world data acquired in the semi-final draft and subsequent acquisitions, the semi-final round roster being set for the remainder of a regular season;

calculating a highest points total for each of the semi-final brackets, with the contestant with the highest point total in each of the semi-final brackets advancing to a final bracket in a final round;

conducting the final round during a following season;

conducting a final draft;

setting a final round roster for each of the contestants remaining, with entries based on real-world data acquired in the final draft and subsequent acquisitions, the final round roster being set each week until a conclusion of the following season;

awarding a winner based on highest points accumulated during the final round;

further comprising entering the contestant data and participating upon submitting an entry fee;

further comprising placing the entry fee submitted by each of the contestant into a pot;

further comprising placing the entry fee submitted by each of the contestants into a pot, the pot being an accumulation of the entry fee submitted by each contestant and recorded in the at least one integrated server;

further comprising awarding a winner prize money from the pot;

further comprising participating via a computing device that is connected to the at least one integrated server;

further comprising employing at least one kiosk for use by the contestant, the at least one kiosk being connected to the at least one integrated server;

further comprising fitting 248,832 entries into the secondary brackets of the first round;

further comprising creating 144 total brackets;

further comprising creating 12 primary brackets;

further comprising creating 1,728 leagues from which the secondary brackets branch off;

further comprising moving from the first round through the third round with the secondary brackets;

further comprising establishing winners of the third round to be winners of the secondary brackets;

further comprising moving the winners of the secondary brackets into the primary brackets, the primary brackets beginning to be populated by the contestants in the quarterfinals;

further comprising establishing winners of the semi-finals to be winners of the primary brackets;

further comprising placing each team that advances to a subsequent round into leagues that are populated with other teams that had a same draft order position in a previous round; and

further comprising placing each team that advances to a subsequent round into leagues that are populated with other teams that were closest to the same draft order position in the previous round, when all of the other teams that had the same draft order position in the previous round already are placed.