Method of and system for conducting multiple contests of skill with a single performance

• US 9,652,937 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2015
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Winview IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: WinView Incorporated (GameSquare Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lockton, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US14/927,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20160049049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 463 5, 463 9, 463 16, 463 20, 463 25, 463 29, 463 42
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

A method and system for conducting multiple competitions of skill for a single performance are described herein. User generated competition groups and system generated competition groups allow users to participate in multiple competitions at once based on answering the same questions or making the same selections related to a single event. The users are informed of each competition either via email, text message or when logging into the network via a website. The users select which competition groups to join. After joining the desired groups, users then make their selections related to the event which are transmitted to the network where results are tabulated and transmitted back to the users. The results are separated based on each competition group, so that users can continually know where they stand in each separate competition. With multiple competition groups, users are able to have varying success from the same performance in multiple competitions.

Claims

1. A server device for conducting simultaneous multiple separate contests of skill or chance corresponding to one or more events comprising:

a. a storage mechanism; and

b. an application for interacting with the storage mechanism to generate and store competitive groups which are used to simultaneously and in real time compete in the multiple separate contests of skill or chance, the application further for;

i. receiving each user'"'"'s input including event selections related to the one or more events, wherein the same event selections are separately and simultaneously applied to each of the competitive groups, wherein the user input includes single sets of event selections related to the one or more events taking place in real time and simultaneously presented to all users, wherein the single sets of event selections enable real time participation with the competitive groups;

ii. storing results and standings for each separate competitive group based on the event selections, wherein the standings are based on the results; and

iii. transmitting the multiple and separate standings to each client device.

2. The server device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the application is further for providing an interface for generating competitive groups related to the one or more events.

3. The server device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more events are selected from the group consisting of a television-based event, a scheduled competition, a scheduled series of competitions, a sporting event, an event based on a video game, computer game or electronic game, an entertainment show, a game show, a reality show, a news show and a commercial contained in a broadcast.

4. The server device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more events comprises card, dice, trivia and word games played simultaneously.

5. The server device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the server device communicates data for generating the competitive groups, for selecting the competitive groups to join and for submitting the selections.

6. The server device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the standings are transmitted periodically to the client device and represent performance within the competitive groups.

7. The server device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the standings are separated based on the competitive groups.

8. The server device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a network identifies the competitive groups a user is eligible for.

9. The server device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a database stored on the server device for managing the selections, the results, the standings and the competitive groups.

10. The server device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the results are adjusted using a handicap by providing additional points to users in lower level groups.

11. The server device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more events comprise multiple contests.

12. The server device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the multiple contests comprise athletic contests.

13. The server device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more events comprise multiple contests taking place in a single day.

14. The server device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more events comprise a variety of events.

15. The server device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more events comprise a season of events.

16. The server device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more events comprise events that occur on multiple days.

17. The server device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the one or more events are related events.

18. The server device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the server device generates competitive groups.

19. The server device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the client device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular device, a laptop computer, a personal computer, a PDA or other web connected device.

20. The server device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the results are adjusted using a handicap benefitting users in lower level groups.

21. The server device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more events comprise one or more competitions based on a video game, computer game or electronic game.

22. The server device as claimed in claim 1 wherein determination of relative skill over time limits participation by a user in certain competitions.

23. A device for participating in multiple real time contests of skill or chance corresponding to one or more events comprising:

a. a communications module for coupling to a server; and

b. an application for utilizing the communications module for coupling to a server to communicate with the server to generate competitive groups which are used to compete in the multiple real time contests of skill or chance, wherein the application is configured for receiving user input including a group selection of a plurality of competitive groups to join and receiving additional user input including a single set of event selections related to the one or more events, wherein the user input includes single sets of event selections related to the one or more real time events, wherein the single sets of event selections enable simultaneously participating separately with multiple competitive groups.

24. The device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the application utilizes the communications module for coupling to the server to send selections to and receive standings from the server.

25. The device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the one or more events are selected from the group consisting of a television-based event, a scheduled competition, a scheduled series of competitions, a sporting event, an event based on a video game, computer game or electronic game, an entertainment show, a game show, a reality show, a news show and a commercial contained in a broadcast.

26. The device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the one or more events comprise card, dice, trivia and word games played simultaneously.

27. The device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the competitive groups comprise user generated competitive groups including existing groups on a social networking site or a site hosting a social group.

28. The device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the device and the server implement HTML5.

29. The device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the one or more events comprise multiple contests.

30. The device as claimed in claim 29 wherein the multiple contests comprise athletic contests.

31. The device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the one or more events comprise multiple contests taking place in a single day.

32. The device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the one or more events comprise a variety of events.

33. The device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the one or more events comprise a season of events.

34. The device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the one or more events comprise events that occur on multiple days.

35. The device as claimed in claim 34 wherein the one or more events are affiliated events.

36. The device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the one or more events comprise one or more competitions based on a video game, computer game or electronic game.

37. A method programmed in a memory of a device comprising:

a. generating a list of competitive groups to join;

b. presenting the list of competitive groups to join, wherein the list of competitive groups are for participating in multiple contests of skill or chance corresponding to one or more events;

c. receiving user input including event selections related to the one or more events, wherein the event selections are separately applied to each of the competitive groups, wherein the user input includes single sets of event selections related to the one or more events, wherein the single sets of event selections enable simultaneously participating with the competitive groups;

d. storing results and standings based on the event selections, wherein the standings are based on the results; and

e. transmitting the standings to the device.

38. The method as claimed in claim 37 wherein users are provided a currency for watching the one or more events or participating in the multiple contests of skill or chance.

39. The method as claimed in claim 38 where the currency is redeemable for prizes or services.

40. The method as claimed in claim 38 wherein each group pools the currency received by users and the currency is distributed to a member of each group.

41. The method as claimed in claim 40 wherein the member is chosen at random.

42. The method as claimed in claim 40 wherein the member is chosen based on skill.

43. The method as claimed in claim 37 wherein participants in a group of the competitive groups pool sweepstakes entries together and divide a resulting award from the sweepstakes among the participants of the group.

44. The method as claimed in claim 37 wherein a game of skill or chance is synchronized with the one or more events.

45. The method as claimed in claim 44 wherein the game of skill or chance is synchronized with the one or more events using watermarking or fingerprinting.

46. The method as claimed in claim 37 wherein the multiple contests of skill or chance are generated by users using a template.

47. The method as claimed in claim 37 wherein promotional awards are awarded for participating.

48. The method as claimed in claim 37 wherein frequent player points are offered for participating.

49. The method as claimed in claim 37 wherein users are able to invite other users to a contest of the multiple contests of skill or chance through a social networking site.

50. The method as claimed in claim 37 wherein a user pays a separate consideration to play in a contest of the multiple contests of skill or chance through a micropayments system, where a prize is supplemented or funded by an entry fee or consideration paid by all who participate in a group.

51. The method as claimed in claim 37 wherein the one or more events comprise multiple contests.

52. The method as claimed in claim 51 wherein the multiple contests comprise athletic contests.

53. The method as claimed in claim 37 wherein the one or more events comprise multiple contests taking place in a single day.

54. The method as claimed in claim 37 wherein the one or more events comprise a variety of events.

55. The method as claimed in claim 37 wherein the one or more events comprise a season of events.

56. The method as claimed in claim 37 wherein the one or more events comprise events that occur on multiple days.

57. The method as claimed in claim 56 wherein the one or more events are related events.

58. The method as claimed in claim 37 wherein the one or more events comprise one or more competitions based on a video game, computer game or electronic game.

59. A server device for conducting multiple simultaneous contests of skill or chance corresponding to one or more events comprising:

a. a storage mechanism; and

b. an application for interacting with the storage mechanism to generate and store competitive groups which are used to compete in real time in the multiple contests of skill or chance, the application further for;

i. receiving user input including event selections related to the one or more events, wherein the user input includes single sets of event selections related to the one or more events, wherein the single sets of event selections enable simultaneously participating with the competitive groups;

ii. storing results and standings based on the event selections, wherein the standings are based on the results, wherein the standings are based on separate scoring in each group of the competitive groups; and

iii. transmitting the standings to the device.

60. A device for simultaneously participating in multiple separate contests of skill or chance corresponding to one or more events comprising:

a. a communications module for coupling to a server; and

b. an application for utilizing the communications module for coupling to a server to communicate with the server to generate competitive groups which are used to simultaneously and in real time compete in the multiple separate contests of skill or chance, wherein the application is configured for receiving each user'"'"'s input including a group selection of a plurality of competitive groups to join and receiving additional user input including event selections related to the one or more events, wherein the user input includes single sets of event selections related to the one or more events taking place in real time and simultaneously presented to all users, wherein the single sets of event selections enable real time participation with the competitive groups.

61. A method programmed in a memory of a device comprising:

a. generating a list of competitive groups to join;

b. presenting the list of competitive groups to join, wherein the list of competitive groups are for participating simultaneously in multiple contests of skill or chance corresponding to one or more events;

c. receiving user input including event selections related to the one or more events, wherein the user input includes single sets of event selections related to the one or more events, wherein the single sets of event selections enable simultaneously participating with the competitive groups;

d. storing results and standings based on the event selections, wherein the standings are based on the results, wherein the standings are based on separate scoring in each group of the competitive groups; and

e. transmitting the standings to the device.

62. A server device for conducting simultaneous multiple separate contests of skill or chance corresponding to one or more events comprising:

a. a storage mechanism; and

b. an application for interacting with the storage mechanism to generate and store competitive groups which are used to simultaneously and in real time compete in the multiple separate contests of skill or chance, the application further for;

i. receiving each user'"'"'s input including event selections related to the one or more events, wherein the same event selections are separately and simultaneously applied to each of the competitive groups, wherein the user input includes single sets of event selections related to the one or more events taking place in real time and simultaneously presented to all users, wherein the single sets of event selections enable real time participation with the competitive groups;

ii. storing results and standings for each separate competitive group based on the event selections, wherein the standings are based on the results;

iii. transmitting the multiple and separate standings to each client device; and

iv. locking out further user input based on a determination of when an earliest arriving television signal is viewed by a user.