Method and system for viewing images of a pari-mutuel gaming activity

• US 8,622,824 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Tote Co. (Churchill Downs Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Tote Co. (Churchill Downs Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vlazny, Kenneth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): RENWICK, REGINALD A
• Application Number:
  US10/923,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20050124409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,428 Days
• Field of Search: 463/28, 463/34
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

The invention relates generally to the field of gaming and, more particularly, to pari-mutuel gaming activities and pari-mutuel gaming systems. In one embodiment, a method of conducting a pari-mutuel gaming activity includes providing a patron an opportunity to view an event that is a subject of the pari-mutuel gaming activity and providing the patron an opportunity to select an image of the event in progress. Responsive to the patron selecting the image, the image is saved and the patron is provided with an opportunity to view the saved imaged subsequent to saving. A system and computer for providing the method of conducting the pari-mutuel gaming activity is also disclosed. In the pari-mutuel gaming activities described herein, a patron is enabled to create multiple “snapshots” of a race.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a pari-mutuel gaming activity, the method comprising:

providing at least one patron an opportunity to view an event which is a subject of the pari-mutuel gaming activity on a display element;

providing the at least one patron an opportunity to freeze at least one image of the event in progress while enabling the patron to continue viewing the event in progress;

solely responsive to the at least one patron freezing the at least one image, saving the at least one image and displaying the at least one image as a thumbnail image on the display element in conjunction with the event in progress;

providing the at least one patron an opportunity to freeze at least another image of the event in progress while enabling the patron to continue viewing the event in progress on the display element;

solely responsive to the at least one patron freezing the at least another image, saving the at least another image and displaying the at least another image as a thumbnail image on the display element in conjunction with the event in progress and the thumbnail image of the at least one image; and

providing the at least one patron an opportunity to view the at least one saved image and the at least another saved image on the display element subsequent to saving.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the at least one patron an opportunity to view the at least one saved image and the at least another saved image on the display element subsequent to saving comprises providing the at least one patron an opportunity to view the at least one saved image and the at least another saved image at a conclusion of the event in progress.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing the at least one patron an opportunity to place a wager on the event.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing the at least one patron an opportunity to manipulate the at least one saved image and the at least another saved image.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein providing the at least one patron an opportunity to manipulate the at least one saved image and the at least another saved image comprises superimposing the at least one saved image over the at least another saved image.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the at least one patron an opportunity to freeze at least one image of the event in progress comprises:

providing the at least one patron an opportunity to preselect a time interval between a first image and a second image; and

responsive to the at least one patron freezing the first image, freezing the second image after the preselected time interval.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the at least one patron an opportunity to view the at least one saved image and the at least another saved image on the display element subsequent to saving comprises:

providing the at least one patron an opportunity to select at least one of the thumbnail image of the at least one image and the thumbnail image of the at least another image; and

responsive to the at least one patron selecting the at least one of the thumbnail image of the at least one image and the thumbnail image of the at least another image, enlarging the selected at least one of the thumbnail image of the at least one image and the thumbnail image of the at least another image on the display element.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the at least one patron the opportunity to freeze the at least one image comprises connecting an input device to a pari-mutuel gaming system, such that activation of the input device causes the pari-mutuel gaming system to save the at least one image and the at least another image.

9. A method of conducting a pari-mutuel gaming activity, the method comprising:

providing at least one patron an opportunity to view an event which is a subject of the pari-mutuel gaming activity on a display element associated with a pari-mutuel gaming system;

providing the at least one patron an opportunity to freeze at least one image of the event while in progress with an input device while enabling the patron to continue viewing the event in progress on the display element;

automatically activating the pari-mutuel gaming system to save and display the at least one image on the display element directly responsive to the at least one patron freezing the at least one image;

providing the at least one patron an opportunity to freeze at least another image of the event while in progress with the input device while enabling the patron to continue viewing the event in progress on the display element;

automatically activating the pari-mutuel gaming system to save and display the at least another image on the display element directly responsive to the at least one patron freezing the at least another image; and

providing the at least one patron an opportunity to view the at least one saved image and the at least another saved image on the display element subsequent to saving.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising providing the at least one patron an opportunity to place a wager on the event.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising providing the at least one patron an opportunity to manipulate the at least one saved image and the at least another saved image with the input device.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein providing the at least one patron the opportunity to freeze the at least one image comprises providing the at least one patron with an opportunity to freeze a plurality of images.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising displaying the at least one saved image and the at least another saved image on the display element below the event.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising displaying a thumbnail image of the at least one saved image and the at least another saved image on the display element.

15. A system for conducting a pari-mutuel gaming activity, the system comprising:

a display element for displaying information associated with an event which is a subject of the pari-mutuel gaming activity;

an input device for interacting with at least one patron; and

a computer operatively configured with software;

wherein the software is operatively configured to enable the computer to conduct the pari-mutuel gaming activity, wherein, in the pari-mutuel gaming activity;

the display element is enabled to display the event in progress;

the at least one patron is provided with an opportunity to freeze at least one image of the event in progress with the input device while enabling the patron to continue viewing the event in progress on the display element;

wherein, if the at least one patron freezes the at least one image, the at least one image is automatically saved in memory and displayed as a thumbnail image on the display element in conjunction with the event in progress;

the at least one patron is provided with an opportunity to freeze at least another image of the event in progress with the input device while enabling the patron to continue viewing the event in progress on the display element;

wherein, if the at least one patron freezes the at least another image, the at least another image is automatically saved in memory and displayed as a thumbnail image on the display element in conjunction with the event in progress and the thumbnail image of the at least one image; and

the at least one patron is provided with an opportunity to view the at least one saved image and the at least another saved image on the display element.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the software is further configured to enable the computer to provide the at least one patron with an opportunity to place a wager on the event.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the software is further configured to enable the computer to provide the at least one patron an opportunity to manipulate the at least one saved image and the at least another saved image.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the software is further configured to enable the patron to view at least one of the at least one saved image and the at least another saved image during the event or after the event has concluded by selecting the thumbnail image of the at least one saved image or the thumbnail image of the at least another saved image.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the software is further configured to enable the patron to preselect a time interval between the at least one image and the at least another image and responsive to the at least one patron freezing the at least one image, the software freezes the at least another image after the preselected time interval.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the input device comprises at least one of a keypad, a keyboard, a touch-sensitive screen, an overlying touch-sensitive screen, a light pen, a mouse, a touch pad, a trackball, or a voice recognition system.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the display element comprises a touch-sensitive screen and the input device comprises a portion of the touch-sensitive screen.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the computer is operatively connected to a computer network.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the computer network comprises the Internet.

24. The system of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of display elements.

25. The system of claim 15, further comprising a device for accepting monetary value.

26. The system of claim 15, further comprising an output device.

27. A computer configured to conduct a pari-mutuel gaming activity, comprising:

a central processing unit;

an input device; and

memory operatively configured with software;

wherein the software is operatively configured to;

display an event which is a subject of the pari-mutuel gaming activity on a display element;

generate information associated with the event of the pari-mutuel gaming activity;

display the information associated with the event of the pari-mutuel gaming activity on the display element;

automatically store at least one image of the event in the memory in direct response to at least one patron activating the input device while continuing to display the event of the pari-mutuel gaming activity on the display element;

automatically store at least another image of the event in the memory in direct response to the at least one patron activating the input device while continuing to display the event of the pari-mutuel gaming activity on the display element; and

allow the at least one patron to view the at least one stored image and the at least another stored image on the display element.

28. The computer of claim 27, wherein the software is further configured to enable the computer to provide the at least one patron with an opportunity to place a wager on the event.

29. The computer of claim 27, wherein the software is further configured to enable the computer to provide the at least one patron an opportunity to manipulate the at least one saved image and the at least another saved image with the input device.

30. The computer of claim 27, where the software is further configured to enable the patron to view the at least one saved image and the at least another saved image during the event or after the event has concluded.

31. The computer of claim 27, wherein the input device comprises at least one of a keypad, a keyboard, a touch-sensitive screen, an overlying touch-sensitive screen, a light pen, a mouse, a touch pad, a trackball, or a voice recognition system.

32. The computer of claim 28, wherein the memory is further configured with software that enables the computer to connect to the Internet.

33. The computer of claim 27, wherein the software is further configured to display an icon of the at least one image, an icon of the at least another image, and the event of the pari-mutuel gaming activity in its entirety on the display element.

34. The computer of claim 33, wherein the software is further configured to enlarge at least one of the icon of the at least one image and the icon of the at least another image in response to the at least one patron selecting the at least one of the icon of the at least one image and the icon of the at least another image with the input device.