Peer-to-Peer Wagering Platform

• US 20140200062A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skillz Platform, Inc. (Skillz Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Skillz Inc.
• Inventors: Paradise, Andrew, Chafkin, Casey, Petralia, Jason, Abdalla, Ahmed
• Granted Patent: US 9,240,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• 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 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/70 Game security or game management aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

Data characterizing historical skills-based gaming metrics for a first user and historical skills-based gaming metrics for at least one second user is accessed. Using the accessed data and a set of rules, a targeted advertisement to present to the first user is determined. The targeted advertisement specifies at least one skills-based game and a characterization of the at least one second user'"'"'s historical skills-based gaming metrics. The targeted advertisement is generated. Data characterizing the targeted advertisement is provided. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

Claims

1. A method for implementation by one or more data processors forming part of at least one computing system, the method comprising:

receiving, by one or more data processors, data characterizing a plurality of third party game instances, a wager amount for each third party game instance, and a third party skills based digital gaming competition, each third party game instance enrolled in the third party skills based digital gaming competition;

generating, using one or more data processors, a pseudo-random number stream; and

transmitting, using one or more data processors and during the third party skills based digital gaming competition, the pseudo-random number stream to one or more computing systems associated with each of the plurality of third game instances so that the third party game instance initiates a gameplay experience that is common among the third party game instances during the third party skills based digital gaming competition.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising securing, using one or more data processors and for each third party game instance, a wager amount of funds previously deposited, wherein the wager amount of funds is secured such that the wager amount of funds cannot be transferred, withdrawn, or secured for a different wager.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting, for at least one of the plurality of third party game instances, data characterizing a confirmation that each of the wager amount of funds was successfully secured.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving data characterizing an outcome of the third party skills based gaming competition;

transferring, using one or more data processors, at least a portion of the secured funds to an player account associated with one of the plurality of third party game instances; and

transmitting data characterizing the transfer.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving, from at least one third party game instance, data characterizing an associated player'"'"'s game play;

monitoring one or more characteristics of the received data; and

comparing the monitored characteristics to historical characteristics associated with the associated player to detect fraudulent behavior by the associated player, wherein deviations between the monitored characteristics and historical characteristics indicate fraud.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the monitoring is performed in real time.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the monitoring is performed after third party skills based digital gaming competition is complete.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a third party gaming server provides data related to a third party game, each of the plurality of third party game instances is in communication with and receiving game data from the third party gaming server and each third party game instance includes a peer-wagering module.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the pseudo-random number stream includes seeding a random number generator with a unique match identifier associated with an instance of the third party skills based digital gaming competition.

10. A system comprising:

at least one data processor;

memory storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one data processor, causes the at least one data processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving data characterizing a plurality of third party game instances, a wager amount for each third party game instance, and a third party skills based digital gaming competition, each third party game instance enrolled in the third party skills based digital gaming competition;

generating a pseudo-random number stream; and

transmitting, during the third party skills based digital gaming competition, the pseudo-random number stream to one or more computing systems associated with each of the plurality of third game instances so that the third party game instance initiates a gameplay experience that is common among the third party game instances during the third party skills based digital gaming competition.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising securing, for each third party game instance, a wager amount of funds previously deposited, wherein the wager amount of funds is secured such that the wager amount of funds cannot be transferred, withdrawn, or secured for a different wager.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising transmitting, for at least one of the plurality of third party game instances, data characterizing a confirmation that each of the wager amount of funds was successfully secured.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving data characterizing an outcome of the third party skills based gaming competition;

transferring at least a portion of the secured funds to an player account associated with one of the plurality of third party game instances; and

transmitting data characterizing the transfer.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, from at least one third party game instance, data characterizing an associated player'"'"'s game play;

monitoring one or more characteristics of the received data; and

comparing the monitored characteristics to historical characteristics associated with the associated player to detect fraudulent behavior by the associated player, wherein deviations between the monitored characteristics and historical characteristics indicate fraud.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the monitoring is performed in real time.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the monitoring is performed after third party skills based digital gaming competition is complete.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein a third party gaming server provides data related to a third party game, each of the plurality of third party game instances is in communication with and receiving game data from the third party gaming server and each third party game instance includes a peer-wagering module.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein generating the pseudo-random number stream includes seeding a random number generator with a unique match identifier associated with an instance of the third party skills based digital gaming competition.

19. A non-transitory computer program product storing instructions, which when executed by at least one data processor of at least one computing system, implement a method comprising:

receiving data characterizing a plurality of third party game instances, a wager amount for each third party game instance, and a third party skills based digital gaming competition, each third party game instance enrolled in the third party skills based digital gaming competition;

generating a pseudo-random number stream; and

transmitting, during the third party skills based digital gaming competition, the pseudo-random number stream to one or more computing systems associated with each of the plurality of third game instances so that the third party game instance initiates a gameplay experience that is common among the third party game instances during the third party skills based digital gaming competition.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising securing, for each third party game instance, a wager amount of funds previously deposited, wherein the wager amount of funds is secured such that the wager amount of funds cannot be transferred, withdrawn, or secured for a different wager.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising transmitting, for at least one of the plurality of third party game instances, data characterizing a confirmation that each of the wager amount of funds was successfully secured.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving data characterizing an outcome of the third party skills based gaming competition;

transferring at least a portion of the secured funds to an player account associated with one of the plurality of third party game instances; and

transmitting data characterizing the transfer.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving, from at least one third party game instance, data characterizing an associated player'"'"'s game play;

monitoring one or more characteristics of the received data; and

comparing the monitored characteristics to historical characteristics associated with the associated player to detect fraudulent behavior by the associated player, wherein deviations between the monitored characteristics and historical characteristics indicate fraud.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the monitoring is performed in real time.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the monitoring is performed after third party skills based digital gaming competition is complete.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein a third party gaming server provides data related to a third party game, each of the plurality of third party game instances is in communication with and receiving game data from the third party gaming server and each third party game instance includes a peer-wagering module.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein generating the pseudo-random number stream includes seeding a random number generator with a unique match identifier associated with an instance of the third party skills based digital gaming competition.