CELLULAR PHONE GAMES BASED TELEVISION ACHIVES

• US 20170036110A1
• Filed: 10/24/2016
• Published: 02/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Winview IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: WinView Incorporated (GameSquare Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lockton, David B., Berner, Mark K.
• Granted Patent: US 10,137,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/558 by assessing the players' skills or ranking

Abstract

Cellular phone games based on television archives allow users to play games on their cellular phones wherein the games are based on archived television programs. The game is able to be played simultaneously between competitors or on demand. Game data and video data are combined into one file and are sent to participating cellular phones so that the required information is received at the same time at each cellular phone. Each cellular phone contains software to manipulate the game and video data so that the user is able to play the game. The game is played by watching video clips from archived television programs and then selecting choices related to the video clips using the inputs on the user'"'"'s cellular phone. User scores are determined based on the answers to the questions related to the video clips and results are distributed to the participants.

Claims

1. A method of playing a game based on content, comprising:

a. receiving content and one or more game data files; and

b. operating a cellular based program to display one or more video clips and game data from the content and the one or more game data files.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising receiving a game start signal and starting the game.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising playing the game by selecting one or more choices related to the one or more video clips.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the content and the one or more game data files are received in combined content.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more video clips and the game data are displayed simultaneously.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising collecting scores and reporting performance to participants to a mobile device.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising prohibiting further input with a lockout signal.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the content or the one or more game data files are compressed.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the game data contains graphic information in addition to the one or more video clips.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the graphic information is displayed as a selected one of crawling information, closed captioned information, a picture in picture and a graphical overlay.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the content and the one or more game data files are received in advance of a scheduled start.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising transmitting the content and the one or more game data files on a transmission selected from the group consisting of a single TCP, UDP, 3G, multicast and broadcast transmission.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein transmitting is selected from the group consisting of digital broadcasting, individual streaming and downloading.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the game is played as a selected one of simultaneously live, on demand and practice.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a set of digital audio is received with the content and the one or more game data files.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a user identifies one or more remote competitors to challenge and compete against in a challenge game.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein after all of the challenged competitors complete the challenge game, results are sent to the challenged competitors including rankings.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the user utilizes the Internet to identify one or more remote competitors to challenge and compete against.

19. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the content and the one or more game data files are simultaneously broadcast to all participants at a specific time.

20. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the content and the one or more game data files are pre-produced.

21. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the content is selected from the group consisting of sporting events, game shows and entertainment shows.

24. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising digitizing analog video.

25. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the content and the one or more game data files are received over a wireless cellular network.

26. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more video clips and the game data are synchronously displayed.

27. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a record of episodes of the one or more video clips played by the user is maintained on a server to ensure the user receives a never-before played game by the user.

97. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein content comprises live content.

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

28. A method of playing a game based on a segment of a television program, comprising:

a. transmitting content from a server over a wireless cellular network, the content comprising;

i. one or more video clips;

ii. one or more game data files, wherein the one or more game data files contain game data, further wherein the game data contains graphic information in addition to the one or more video clips; and

iii. audio data;

b. receiving the content on a mobile device;

c. operating a cellular based program contained on the mobile device to synchronously display the one or more video clips and the game data; and

d. playing the game by selecting one or more choices.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28 wherein the content is assembled into combined content.

30. The method as claimed in claim 28 further comprising collecting scores and reporting performance to participants to the mobile device.

31. The method as claimed in claim 30 wherein the graphic information is displayed as a selected one of crawling information, closed captioned information, a picture in picture and a graphic overlay.

32. The method as claimed in claim 28 wherein the content contains compressed data.

33. The method as claimed in claim 28 wherein the content is received in advance of scheduled start.

34. The method as claimed in claim 28 wherein transmitting the content is on a transmission selected from the group consisting of a single TCP, UDP, 3G, multicast and broadcast transmission.

35. The method as claimed in claim 34 wherein transmitting is selected from the group consisting of digital broadcasting, individual streaming and downloading.

36. The method as claimed in claim 35 wherein the game is played as a selected one of simultaneously live, on demand and practice.

37. The method as claimed in claim 28 wherein a user identifies one or more remote competitors to challenge and compete against in a challenge game.

38. The method as claimed in claim 37 wherein after all of the challenged competitors complete the challenge game, results are sent to the challenged competitors including rankings

39. The method as claimed in claim 28 wherein the content is simultaneously broadcast to all participants at a specific time.

40. The method as claimed in claim 28 wherein the content is selected from the group consisting of sporting events, game shows and entertainment shows.

98. The method as claimed in claim 28 wherein content comprises live content.

41. A system for producing and distributing a game based on television programming, comprising:

a. a game production device for grouping one or more video clips and game data, and

b. a first server coupled to the game production device, wherein the server receives and transmits the grouped one or more video clips and game data.

42. The system as claimed in claim 41 wherein the grouped one or more video clips and game data is assembled into combined content.

43. The system as claimed in claim 41 wherein the one or more video clips and the game data allow a user to play the game by selecting one or more choices related to the one or more video clips.

44. The system as claimed in claim 41 further comprising a second server coupled to the first server for receiving scoring data, determining standings and communicating the standings to participants.

45. The system as claimed in claim 44 wherein the first server and the second server are contained within a single server device.

46. The system as claimed in claim 41 further comprising a cellular service operator coupled to the first server and a wireless network for transmitting the grouped one or more video clips and game data to the wireless network.

47. The system as claimed in claim 41 wherein the grouped one or more video clips and game data contains compressed data.

48. The system as claimed in claim 41 wherein the grouped one or more video clips and game data is transmitted on a transmission selected from the group consisting of a single TCP, UDP, 3G, multicast and broadcast transmission.

49. The system as claimed in claim 48 wherein transmitting the grouped one or more video clips and game data is selected from the group consisting of digital broadcasting, individual streaming and downloading.

50. The system as claimed in claim 49 wherein the game is played as a selected one of simultaneously live, on demand and practice.

51. The system as claimed in claim 41 wherein a set of digital audio is grouped into the grouped one or more video clips and game data.

52. The system as claimed in claim 41 wherein the grouped one or more video clips and game data is simultaneously broadcast to all participants at a specific time.

53. The system as claimed in claim 41 wherein the one or more video clips and the game data are pre-produced.

54. The system as claimed in claim 41 wherein the television programming selected from the group consisting of sporting events, game shows and entertainment shows.

99. The system as claimed in claim 41 wherein content comprises live content.

55. (canceled)

56. (canceled)

57. A device for playing a game based on television content, comprising a mobile device, wherein the mobile device receives content, wherein the content contains one or more video clips and game data and utilizes a program and the set of files to present the one or more video clips and the game data to a user.

58. The device as claimed in claim 57 wherein the content is assembled into combined content.

59. The device as claimed in claim 57 wherein the one or more video clips and the game data are displayed simultaneously.

60. The device as claimed in claim 57 wherein the game data contains graphic information in addition to the one or more video clips.

61. The device as claimed in claim 60 wherein the graphic information is displayed as a selected one of crawling information, closed captioned information, a picture in picture and a graphic overlay.

62. The device as claimed in claim 57 wherein the one or more video clips and the game data are synchronized.

63. The device as claimed in claim 57 wherein the game is transmitted to the mobile device using a selected one of digital broadcasting, individual streaming and downloading.

64. The device as claimed in claim 57 wherein the game is played as a selected one of simultaneously live, on demand and practice.

65. The device as claimed in claim 57 wherein the user identifies one or more remote competitors to challenge and compete against in a challenge game.

66. The device as claimed in claim 65 wherein after all of the challenged competitors complete the challenge game, results are sent to the challenged competitors including rankings.

67. The device as claimed in claim 57 wherein standings information is received from a server.

68. The device as claimed in claim 57 wherein the one or more video clips and the game data are pre-produced.

69. The device as claimed in claim 57 wherein the television content is selected from the group consisting of sporting events, game shows and entertainment shows.

100. The device as claimed in claim 57 wherein content comprises live content.

70-96. -96. (canceled)