Method for conducting an online contest

• US 8,348,737 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2010
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Everett Page
• Original Assignee: Everett Page
• Inventors: Page, Everett
• Primary Examiner(s): CUFF, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US12/785,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20100298038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 463/9, 463/10, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/10
• 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 of a plurality of contestants with 12 separate entries in a plurality of contestant accounts, each contestant account having an account identification code associated with a single contestant and managed by at least one integrated server;

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

electronically placing, via the at least one integrated server, each of the 12 separate entries for each of the plurality of contestants into separate ones of the secondary brackets, thereby electronically populating all of the secondary brackets with 12 teams;

conducting a draft such that each of the 12 separate entries of each contestant will have draft positions that are different from each other, the draft resulting in each of the 12 separate entries in each contestant account managed by the server being populated with an initial roster;

beginning a first round through setting a first round roster for each of the 12 entries of each contestant based on the initial roster acquired in the draft and subsequent acquisitions, the first round 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 real-world weekly performance of the first round roster as set for the first week, the second week, and the third week, the real-world data being used in each of the 12 entries to determine the points;

calculating, via the at least one integrated server, a points total for each of the entries in each of the secondary brackets, with entries with the highest point total in each of the secondary brackets advancing to a second round to become second round entries, and contestants associated with the second round entries becoming second round contestants;

electronically placing each of the second round entries of the second round contestants that had the highest point total from each secondary bracket into second round secondary brackets;

conducting a second draft in each of the second round secondary brackets, thereby forming a second initial roster for each second round entry;

setting a second round roster for each of the second round entries of the second round contestants, with second round entries based on the second initial roster 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, via the at least one integrated server, a points total for each second round entry in each of the second round secondary brackets based on real-world data associated with each second round roster, the second round entries with the highest point total in each of the secondary brackets advancing to become third round entries, each third round entry associated with a third round contestant from among the second round contestants;

electronically placing each of the third round entries into third round secondary brackets;

conducting a third draft in each of the third round secondary brackets, thereby forming a third initial roster for each third round entry;

setting a third round roster for each of the third round entries, with third round entries based on the third initial roster 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, via the at least one integrated server, a points total for each of the third round entries in each of the third round secondary brackets based on real-world data associated with each third round roster, the third round entries with the highest point total in each of the third round secondary brackets advancing into quarterfinal brackets in a quarterfinal round to become quarterfinal entries, each quarterfinal entry associated with a quarterfinal contestant from among the third round contestants;

conducting a quarterfinal draft to form a quarterfinal initial roster for each quarterfinal entry;

setting a quarterfinal round roster for each of the quarterfinal entries, with each of the quarterfinal entries based on the quarterfinal initial roster 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, via the at least one integrated server, a points total for each quarterfinal entry in each of the quarterfinal brackets based on real-world data associated with each quarterfinal round roster, with the quarterfinal entries with the highest point total in each of the quarterfinal brackets advancing to a semi-final bracket in a semi-final round to become semi-final entries, each semi-final entry associated with a semi-final contestant from among the quarterfinal contestants;

conducting a semi-final draft to form semi-final initial rosters for each semi-final entry;

setting a semi-final round roster for each of the semi-final entries, with each of the semi-final entries based on semi-final initial rosters acquired in the semi-final draft and subsequent acquisitions, the semi-final round roster being set for one or more weeks;

calculating, via the at least one integrated server, a points total for each semi-final entry in each of the semi-final brackets based on real-world data associated with each semi-final round roster, with the semi-final entries with the highest point total in each of the semi-final brackets advancing to become final round entries in a final bracket in a final round, each of the final round entries associated with a final round contestant from among the semi-final contestants;

conducting a final draft to form a final initial roster;

setting a final round roster for each of the contestants remaining, with entries based on the final initial roster acquired in the final draft and subsequent acquisitions, the final round roster being set each week until a conclusion of a predetermined number of weeks; 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 in the online contest 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 first, second, and third secondary brackets.

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

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising moving the winners of the third round 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 entry 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 entry that advances to a subsequent round into leagues that are populated with other entries that were closest to the same draft order position in the previous round, when all of the other entries 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 of a plurality of contestants with 12 separate entries in a plurality of contestant accounts, each contestant account having an account identification code associated with a single contestant and managed by at least one integrated server;

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

electronically placing, via the at least one integrated server, each of the 12 separate entries for each of the plurality of contestants into separate ones of the secondary brackets, thereby electronically populating all of the secondary brackets with 12 teams;

conducting a draft such that each of the 12 separate entries of each contestant will have draft positions that are different from each other, the draft resulting in each of the 12 separate entries in each contestant account managed by the server being populated with an initial roster;

beginning a first round through setting a first round roster for each of the 12 entries of each contestant based on the initial roster acquired in the draft and subsequent acquisitions, the first round 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, via the at least one integrated server, a points total for each of the entries in each of the secondary brackets, with entries with the highest point total in each of the secondary brackets advancing to a second round to become second round entries, and contestants associated with the second round entries becoming second round contestants;

electronically placing each of the second round entries of the second round contestants that had the highest point total from each of the secondary bracket into second round secondary brackets;

conducting a second draft in each of the second round secondary brackets, thereby forming a second initial roster for each second round entry;

setting a second round roster for each of the second round entries of the second round contestants, with second round entries based on the second initial roster 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, via the at least one integrated server, a points total for each second round entry in each of the second round secondary brackets based on real-world data associated with each second round roster, the second round entries with the highest point total in each of the secondary brackets advancing to become third round entries, each third round entry associated with a third round contestant from among the second round contestants;

electronically placing each of the third round entries into third round secondary brackets;

conducting a third draft in each of the third round secondary brackets, thereby forming a third initial roster for each third round entry;

setting a third round roster for each of the third round entries, with third round entries based on the third initial roster 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, via the at least one integrated server, a points total for each of the third round entries in each of the third round secondary brackets based on real-world data associated with each third round roster, the third round entries with the highest point total in each of the third round secondary brackets advancing into quarterfinal brackets in a quarterfinal round to become quarterfinal entries, each quarterfinal entry associated with a quarterfinal contestant from among the third round contestants;

conducting a quarterfinal draft to form a quarterfinal initial roster for each quarterfinal entry;

setting a quarterfinal round roster for each of the quarterfinal entries, with each of the quarterfinal entries based on the quarterfinal initial roster 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, via the at least one integrated server, a points total for each quarterfinal entry in each of the quarterfinal brackets based on real-world data associated with each quarterfinal round roster, with the quarterfinal entries with the highest point total in each of the quarterfinal brackets advancing to a semi-final bracket in a semi-final round to become semi-final entries, each semi-final entry associated with a semi-final contestant from among the quarterfinal contestants;

conducting a semi-final draft to form semi-final initial rosters for each semi-final entry;

setting a semi-final round roster for each of the semi-final entries, with each of the semi-final entries based on semi-final initial rosters acquired in the semi-final draft and subsequent acquisitions, the semi-final round roster being set for one or more weeks;

calculating, via the at least one integrated server, a points total for each semi-final entry in each of the semi-final brackets based on real-world data associated with each semi-final round roster, with the semi-final entries with the highest point total in each of the semi-final brackets advancing to become final round entries in a final bracket in a final round, each of the final round entries associated with a final round contestant from among the semi-final contestants;

conducting a final draft to form a final initial roster;

setting a final round roster for each of the contestants remaining, with entries based on the final initial roster acquired in the final draft and subsequent acquisitions, the final round roster being set each week until a conclusion of a predetermined number of weeks;

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

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

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

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

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

19. A method of participating in an online contest via a computing system communicatively connected to an integrated server, the method comprising:

registering as a contestant in the online contest from a computing system communicatively connected to an integrated server, thereby receiving a contestant account having an account identification code;

receiving 12 separate entries associated with the contestant account, each of the 12 separate entries placed into secondary brackets;

participating in an online draft, moderated by the integrated server, such that each of the 12 separate entries of the contestant have draft positions that are different from each other, the draft resulting in each of the 12 separate entries being populated with initial rosters;

setting a first round roster for each of the 12 entries based on the initial roster acquired in the draft and subsequent acquisitions, the first round roster being set for each of a first week, a second week, and a third week, the first round roster selected for accumulating points in each of the 12 entries based on real-world weekly performance of the first round roster as set for the first week, the second week, and the third week, the real-world data being used in each of the 12 entries to determine the points;

for each of the 12 entries, upon a determination by the integrated server that the entry has a highest point total in a secondary bracket, advancing that entry to a second round to become a second round entry, such that each of the second round entries are placed into second round secondary brackets, participating in a second draft in each of the second round secondary brackets, thereby forming a second initial roster for each second round entry;

setting, via a computing system communicatively connected to the integrated server, a second round roster for each of the second round entries based on the second initial roster acquired in the second draft and subsequent acquisitions, the second round roster being set for accumulating points in each of the second round entries based on real-world weekly performance of the second round rosters as set each of a fourth week, a fifth week, and a sixth week;

for each of the second round entries, upon a determination by the integrated server that one or more of the second round entries has a highest point total in a second round secondary bracket, advancing that second round entry to a third round to become a third round entry, such that each of the third round entries are placed into third round secondary brackets, participating in a third draft in each of the third round secondary brackets, thereby forming a third initial roster for each third round entry;

setting, via a computing system communicatively connected to the integrated server, a third round roster for each of the third round entries based on the third initial roster acquired in the third draft and subsequent acquisitions, the third round roster being set for accumulating points in each of the third round entries based on real-world weekly performance of the third round rosters as set each of a seventh week, eighth week, ninth week, and tenth week;

for each of the third round entries, upon a determination by the integrated server that one or more of the third round entries has a highest point total in a third round secondary bracket, advancing that third round entry to a quarterfinal round to become a quarterfinal round entry, such that each of the quarterfinal round entries are placed into quarterfinal brackets, participating in a quarterfinal draft in each of the quarterfinal brackets, thereby forming a quarterfinal initial roster for each quarterfinal round entry;

setting, via a computing system communicatively connected to the integrated server, a quarterfinal round roster for each of the quarterfinal round entries based on the quarterfinal initial roster acquired in the quarterfinal draft and subsequent acquisitions, the quarterfinal round roster being set for accumulating points in each of the quarterfinal round entries based on real-world weekly performance of the quarterfinal round rosters as set each of an eleventh week, a twelfth week, a thirteenth week, and a fourteenth week;

for each of the quarterfinal round entries, upon a determination by the integrated server that one or more of the quarterfinal round entries has a highest point total in a quarterfinal bracket, advancing that quarterfinal round entry to a semi-final round to become a semi-final round entry, such that each of the semi-final round entries are placed into primary brackets, participating in a semi-final draft in each of the semi-final brackets, thereby forming a semi-final initial roster for each semi-final round entry; and

setting, via a computing system communicatively connected to the integrated server, a semi-final round roster for each of the semi-final round entries based on the semi-final initial roster acquired in the semi-final draft and subsequent acquisitions, the semi-final round roster being set for accumulating points in each of the semi-final round entries based on real-world weekly performance of the semi-final round rosters as set for each of one or more additional weeks.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

for each of the semi-final round entries, upon a determination by the integrated server that one or more of the semi-final round entries has a highest point total in a primary bracket, advancing that semi-final round entry to a final round to become a final round entry, participating in a final draft, thereby forming a final initial roster for each final round entry; and

setting, via a computing system communicatively connected to the integrated server, a semi-final round roster for each of the semi-final round entries based on the semi-final initial roster acquired in the semi-final draft and subsequent acquisitions, the semi-final round roster being set for accumulating points in each of the semi-final round entries based on real-world weekly performance of the semi-final round rosters as set for each of a predetermined number of weeks; and

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