Methodology for equalizing systemic latencies in television reception in connection with games of skill played in connection with live television programming

• US 8,817,408 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2012
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Winview IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: WinView Incorporated (GameSquare Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lockton, David B., Berner, Mark K., Micheli, Mark J., Lowe, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US13/681,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20130079092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 360/65, 360/51, 381/103, 370/260, 463 40- 42
• US Class Current: 360/65
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• 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 13/32 using local area network [LAN] connections
• 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 13/358 Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• 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 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/24 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/27 : Server based end-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4302 : Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 : Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 : Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4508 : Management of client data or end-user data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 : for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 : Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 : involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/04 : Synchronising for television systems using pulse code modulation H04N7/56

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.

Claims

1. A method of preventing a first set of participants of a game of skill or chance at a live event from having an advantage over a second set of participants of the game of skill or chance watching the live event on television comprising:

a. determining a cellular site that serves a set of cellular phones at a venue site;

b. determining the set of cellular phones that are utilizing the cellular site of the venue site;

c. determining a subset of cellular phones within the set of cellular phones that are located within the venue site; and

d. generating separate groups of competitions based on the subset of cellular phones within the set of cellular phones that are located within the venue site;

wherein an earliest receipt of a lockout signal by the second set of participants is utilized for equalizing locking out all of the second set of participants receiving a broadcast signal of the live event on television.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a first group within the separate groups of competitions includes only the first set of participants and a second group within the separate groups of competitions includes only the second set of participants.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein an application on a server determines the cellular site, the set of cellular phones utilizing the cellular site and the subset of cellular phones located within the venue site.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein an application on each cellular phone within the subset of cellular phones determines if the cellular phone is located within the venue site.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the game of skill or chance comprises pre-produced data files and game data generated in real-time by observation at the venue site or via a live telecast.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the pre-produced data files and contemporaneously generated game control data comprise real-time entertainment.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein a plurality of synchronization points are used by a client to continuously check to ensure the data files are synchronized with the live event on television.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein inserted audio or video is used to continuously check to ensure the data files are precisely synchronized on the client with the live event on television.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the inserted audio or video is used by a client to continuously check to ensure the data files are precisely synchronized on the client with the live event on television.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the inserted audio or video is used by a server to continuously check to ensure the pre-produced data files are precisely synchronized on the client with the live event on television.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the game of skill or chance ends when the live event on television ends.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein a server sends the game of skill or chance to a mobile device.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the game of skill or chance is stored in a memory of a mobile device.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the game of skill or chance is stored in random access memory of a mobile device.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the game of skill or chance on a mobile device.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the participants constitute ad hoc or existing groups of geographically dispersed friends participating in the separate game of chance or skill.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the participants are ad hoc or previously organized groups of friends competing against each other in a separate contest.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein further comprising determining if there is additional processing of the live event on television increasing a total length of a delay.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein each participant of the participants is an individual.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein each participant of the participants participates separately.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein electronics receiving and displaying the live event on television on a first screen provide control information to a second screen.

22. A method of preventing a first set of participants of a game of skill or chance at a live event from having an advantage over a second set of participants of the game of skill or chance watching the live event on television comprising:

e. determining a cellular site that serves a set of cellular phones at a venue site;

f. determining the set of cellular phones that are utilizing the cellular site of the venue site;

g. determining a subset of cellular phones within the set of cellular phones that are located within the venue site;

h. generating separate groups of competitions based on the subset of cellular phones within the set of cellular phones that are located within the venue site; and

i. displaying the game of skill or chance on a mobile device, wherein the game of skill or chance comprises pre-produced data files, wherein the pre-produced data files are synchronized with the live event on television;

wherein an earliest receipt of a lockout signal by the second set of participants is utilized for equalizing locking out all of the second set of participants receiving a broadcast signal of the live event on television.

23. A method of preventing a first set of participants of a game of skill or chance at a live event from having an advantage over a second set of participants of the game of skill or chance watching the live event on television comprising:

j. determining a cellular site that serves a set of cellular phones at a venue site;

k. determining the set of cellular phones that are utilizing the cellular site of the venue site;

l. determining a subset of cellular phones within the set of cellular phones that are located within the venue site;

m. generating separate groups of competitions based on the subset of cellular phones within the set of cellular phones that are located within the venue site;

n. determining if there is additional processing of the live event on television increasing a total length of a delay; and

o. displaying the game of skill or chance on a mobile device;

wherein an earliest receipt of a lockout signal by the second set of participants is utilized for equalizing locking out all of the second set of participants receiving a broadcast signal of the live event on television.