Methodology for equalizing systemic latencies in television reception in connection with games of skill played in connection with live television programming
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of equalizing effects of latency differences in a game of skill or chance comprising:
- a. grouping participants into a set of cohorts viewing a telecast delivered by identical transmission and reception systems;
b. determining an amount of delay for each cohort in the set of cohorts, wherein determining comprises establishing the amount of delay through an automated system which samples an audio or video track of a satellite, cable or over the air broadcast television signal, linked to a game server, to provide information related to a precise arrival of an underlying television picture; and
c. substantially equalizing the set of cohorts through adjustment of the amount of delay, wherein equalizing the set of cohorts comprises time stamping the amount of delay on a game lock out signal, imposing the amount of delay on an entire game data stream and sending game control data to the participant cohorts at the same time where client software delays presentation of game data based on a precise time of reception of the telecast by the group.
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Abstract
A method of and system for handling latency issues encountered in producing real-time entertainment such as games of skill synchronized with live or taped televised events is described herein. There are multiple situations that are dealt with regarding latencies in receiving a television signal with respect to real-time entertainment based on the unfolding games played along with the telecasts. Systemic delays, arbitrarily imposed delays of a broadcast signal and variances in the precise broadcast times of taped television programs have to be equalized so as to provide fair entertainment.
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Citations
63 Claims
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1. A method of equalizing effects of latency differences in a game of skill or chance comprising:
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a. grouping participants into a set of cohorts viewing a telecast delivered by identical transmission and reception systems; b. determining an amount of delay for each cohort in the set of cohorts, wherein determining comprises establishing the amount of delay through an automated system which samples an audio or video track of a satellite, cable or over the air broadcast television signal, linked to a game server, to provide information related to a precise arrival of an underlying television picture; and c. substantially equalizing the set of cohorts through adjustment of the amount of delay, wherein equalizing the set of cohorts comprises time stamping the amount of delay on a game lock out signal, imposing the amount of delay on an entire game data stream and sending game control data to the participant cohorts at the same time where client software delays presentation of game data based on a precise time of reception of the telecast by the group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method of equalizing effects of latency differences in a game of skill or chance based on a television program, comprising:
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a. grouping participants into a set of cohorts viewing a telecast delivered by identical transmission and reception systems; b. determining an amount of delay in signal reception for each cohort in the set of cohorts, wherein determining further comprises establishing the amount of delay through an automated system which continuously samples an audio or video track of a satellite, cable or over the air broadcast television signal, linked to a game server, to provide information related to a precise arrival of an underlying television picture relative to the cellular data; and c. substantially equalizing the set of cohorts through adjustment of the amount of delay to synchronize receipt of a television signal of the telecast and cellular or Internet data, wherein equalizing the set of cohorts incorporates time stamping the amount of delay on a game lock out signal, imposing the amount of delay on an entire game data stream and sending game control data to the participant cohorts at the same time where client software delays presentation of game data based on a precise time of reception of the telecast by the group. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A method of equalizing effects of latency differences in a game of skill or chance based on a television program, comprising:
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f. grouping participants into a set of cohorts viewing a telecast comprising commercials delivered by identical transmission and reception systems; g. determining an amount of delay in signal reception for each cohort in the set of cohorts including utilizing a GPS function in a cellular phone to determine a physical location of each of the participants and utilizing a recognizable signal synchronization point within the telecast, wherein synchronizing comprises substantially equalizing receipt of lock out data relative to an event triggering a lock out and substantially equalizing a cohort delay to ensure each of the cohorts receive the game of skill at substantially the same time by time stamping the amount of delay on the game lockout signal and wherein a plurality of synchronization points within the telecast are used to continuously check to ensure the game of skill is synchronized with the telecast, wherein the game of skill ends when the telecast ends; and h. substantially equalizing the set of cohorts through adjustment of the amount of delay to synchronize receipt of a television signal of the telecast and cellular data comprising questions related to the commercials.
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Specification