Methods and apparatus for distributed gaming over a mobile device
First Claim
1. A system for updating game participants, the system comprising:
- a server to host the game, wherein the server is configured to generate sampling data using two-way connection participants, wherein the game is based on a live telecast of an event;
a first mobile device having a two-way connection with the server;
a second mobile device having a one-way connection with the server; and
a network, wherein the first mobile device communicates with the server through the network by using the two-way connection, wherein based on the two-way communication, the server broadcasts to the second mobile device by using the one-way connection, wherein the sampling data is based on performance information received from a sampling participant, wherein the performance information is related to responses received from sampling participants, wherein the server sends current standings based upon the performance information relevant to the participants to the first mobile device and the second mobile device, wherein the server records game play data for ongoing game play of a triggering participant and performs at least one test including recording each entry by the triggering participant and examining time stamp information and additional data received from the first mobile device of the triggering participant to determine an anomaly in activities of the triggering participant based on encryption analysis to determine whether a final score upload has been altered, and further wherein the game is implemented in real-time, including an acknowledgment by the server which is received by the first mobile device in less than 1 second.
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Abstract
A system and method are provided for updating game participants. In some embodiments, participants receive game control information via a one-way broadcast. The method selects a set of sampling participants. In some embodiments, selection occurs prior to start of the game. The method of some embodiments establishes a two-way connection between a server and each sampling participant. During each discrete game period, the method receives data for the sampling participant'"'"'s game period performance. Based on the received data, the method determines performance for the game period and broadcasts this information to a non-sampling participant. In some embodiments, the non-sampling participant determines a standing relative to other participants. Some embodiments provide a method and system for detecting unusual performance. An average performance level is calculated. Based on the average performance level, a participant improvement factor is tracked, stored and compared to a threshold value.
289 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for updating game participants, the system comprising:
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a server to host the game, wherein the server is configured to generate sampling data using two-way connection participants, wherein the game is based on a live telecast of an event; a first mobile device having a two-way connection with the server; a second mobile device having a one-way connection with the server; and a network, wherein the first mobile device communicates with the server through the network by using the two-way connection, wherein based on the two-way communication, the server broadcasts to the second mobile device by using the one-way connection, wherein the sampling data is based on performance information received from a sampling participant, wherein the performance information is related to responses received from sampling participants, wherein the server sends current standings based upon the performance information relevant to the participants to the first mobile device and the second mobile device, wherein the server records game play data for ongoing game play of a triggering participant and performs at least one test including recording each entry by the triggering participant and examining time stamp information and additional data received from the first mobile device of the triggering participant to determine an anomaly in activities of the triggering participant based on encryption analysis to determine whether a final score upload has been altered, and further wherein the game is implemented in real-time, including an acknowledgment by the server which is received by the first mobile device in less than 1 second. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A server for updating game participants, the server comprising:
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a communication layer for providing connections through a network, the communication layer further comprising; a plurality of one-way connections between a first plurality of mobile devices and the server; and a plurality of two-way connections between a second plurality of mobile devices and the server; wherein the one-way connections are updated based on the two-way connections, wherein sampling data is gathered using only the two-way connections, wherein the sampling data is from a statistically significant random sample of game participants, wherein the sampling data is based on performance information received from a sampling participant, wherein the performance information is related to responses received from sampling participants, wherein the server sends current standings based upon the performance information relevant to the participants to the first plurality of mobile devices and the second plurality of mobile devices, further wherein future game play by the participant suspected of unfair activity is conducted using a two-way connection with the server for close monitoring, wherein the server records game play data for ongoing game play of a triggering participant and performs at least one test including recording each entry by the triggering participant and examining time stamp information and additional data received from a mobile device of the triggering participant to determine an anomaly in activities of the triggering participant based on encryption analysis to determine whether a final score upload has been altered. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A mobile device for receiving updates during a game, the mobile device comprising:
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a communication module for connecting to a network, the communication module having one-way and two-way connectivity, wherein the communication module receives a one way broadcast from a server through the network, including a received data set, and communicates game results to the server by using the two-way connectivity, wherein the two-way connectivity enables the mobile device to be part of a representative sample of all participants, wherein the game includes discrete game periods and after each discrete game period, performance information is received from a sampling participant, wherein the performance information is related to responses received from sampling participants, wherein the communication module receives current standings based upon the performance information relevant to the participants, wherein the server records game play data for ongoing game play of a triggering participant and performs at least one test including recording each entry by the triggering participant and examining time stamp information and additional data received from the mobile device of the triggering participant to determine an anomaly in activities of the triggering participant based on encryption analysis to determine whether a final score upload has been altered; a processor coupled to the communication module, the processor for calculating a local data set and for comparing the local data set to the received data set; a memory coupled to the processor, the memory for storing applications and data, including the local data set and the received data set; and a display for presenting data. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification