System and method for distributing games related to TV programs

• US 8,840,474 B1
• Filed: 10/03/2011
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marigold USA Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wayin, Inc. (Cheetah Digital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dasan, Vasanthan, Wood, Jamey Ryan, Gile, Michael Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US13/252,189
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 463/40, 463/1
• US Class Current: 463/40
• 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 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform

Abstract

A game distribution system and method identifies a television program a user is watching and provides the user with games related to the TV program. A client game-play enabled device obtains TV viewing information from a set-top box, smartTV, computer with IPTV, or other device capable of providing TV programming to a video display. The client game-play enabled device sends the TV viewing information to a game distribution server with a request for recommended games. The game distribution server identifies the TV program the user is watching and determines if there are any games related to the TV program. In response to determining that there are games related to the TV program, the server provides one or more of such games to the client device, and the client device presents TV-related games to the user in accordance with any time constraints associated with the games.

Claims

1. A method for distributing games to a user performed by a game distribution system that includes game-play enabled client devices and a server for providing games to the client devices, the method comprising:

obtaining TV viewing information from a device that provides TV programming to a user, wherein the TV viewing information includes information on future TV programs designated to be recorded by the device;

identifying a TV program that the user is watching from the TV viewing information;

searching for games related to the TV program the user is watching;

in response to finding games related to the TV program the user is watching, providing at least one of said games to the user on the client device, wherein said game(s) are provided while the user is watching the TV program; and

identifying additional games to present to the user based on future TV programs designated to be recorded by the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a game provided to the user includes a question related to the TV program.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the TV viewing information includes how far into the TV program the user has progressed, and the game provided to the user includes a question related to the part of the TV program the user is currently watching.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the game provided to the user has a time limit for play and the user is able to submit an answer to the question only prior to the expiration of the time limit.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a user can see how other users answered the question either in response to the user submitting an answer to the question or in response to the expiration of the time limit, whichever comes first.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the game provided to the user has a time limit for play and the user is able to submit an answer to the question only prior to the expiration of the time limit.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a user can see how other users answered the question either in response to the user submitting an answer to the question or in response to the expiration of the time limit, whichever comes first.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the TV viewing information includes the TV program title.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the TV viewing information includes any channel change events.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a game-play enabled client device obtains the TV viewing information and provides the TV viewing information to the server, which performs the search for games related to the TV program.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the client device is paired with the device that provides TV programming information to the user (“

the TV device”

), and, in response the paired client device being able to communicate with the TV device over a local area network, the client device establishes a communication session with the TV device to obtain TV viewing information.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein obtaining the TV viewing information comprises capturing, by the client device, an audio stream from the device that provides TV programming information to the user.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein obtaining the TV viewing information comprises capturing, by the client device, a video stream from the device that provides TV programming information to the user.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the client devices also provides the server with GPS data, and the server also uses the location of the client device to search for games.

15. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium and comprising code, that, when executed by a client-server computer system, enables the computer system to perform the following method:

obtaining TV viewing information from a device that provides TV programming to a user, wherein the TV viewing information includes information on future TV programs designated to be recorded by the device;

identifying a TV program that the user is watching from the TV viewing information;

searching for games related to the TV program the user is watching;

in response to finding games related to the TV program the user is watching, providing at least one of said games to the user on the client device, wherein said game(s) are provided while the user is still watching the TV program; and

identifying additional games to present to the user based on future TV programs designated to be recorded by the device.

16. The computer program of claim 15, wherein a game provided to the user includes a question related to the TV program.

17. The computer program of claim 16, wherein the TV viewing information includes how far into the TV program the user has progressed, and the game provided to the user includes a question related to the part of the TV program the user is currently watching.

18. The computer program of claim 17, wherein the game provided to the user has a time limit for play and the user is able to submit an answer to the question only prior to the expiration of the time limit.

19. The computer program of claim 18, wherein a user can see how other users answered the question either in response to the user submitting an answer to the question or in response to the expiration of the time limit, whichever comes first.

20. The computer program of claim 16, wherein the game provided to the user has a time limit for play and the user is able to submit an answer to the question only prior to the expiration of the time limit.

21. The computer program of claim 20, wherein a user can see how other users answered the question either in response to the user submitting an answer to the question or in response to the expiration of the time limit, whichever comes first.

22. The computer program of claim 16, wherein the TV viewing information includes the TV program title.

23. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the TV viewing information includes any channel change events.

24. The computer program of claim 15, wherein a game-play enabled client device obtains the TV viewing information and provides the TV viewing information to the server, which performs the search for games related to the TV program.

25. The computer program of claim 24 wherein the client device is paired with the device that provides TV programming information to the user (“

the TV device”

), and, in response the paired client device being able to communicate with the TV device over a local area network, the client device establishes a communication session with the TV device to obtain TV viewing information.

26. The computer program of claim 15, wherein obtaining the TV viewing information comprises capturing, by the client device, an audio stream from the device that provides TV programming information to the user.

27. The computer program of claim 15, wherein obtaining the TV viewing information comprises capturing, by the client device, a video stream from the device that provides TV programming information to the user.

28. The computer program of claim 15, wherein the client devices also provides the server with GPS data, and the server also uses the location of the client device to search for games.