Synchronized gaming and programming

• US 9,672,692 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2014
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US14/172,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20140155134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 360 65, 360 51, 381103, 370260, 463 40- 42
• 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: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4015 where at least one of the additional parallel sessions is real time or time sensitive, e.g. white board sharing, collaboration or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06

Abstract

To encourage viewer participation, games, contests and social interactions are able to be synchronized with programming such as television shows or commercials utilizing a second screen such as a cell phone, iPad® or laptop computer. The programming is able to be television programming, Internet programming (e.g. a video displayed on a webpage or mobile device) or any other programming. The gaming is able to be any game such as a game of skill or chance, for example, a scavenger hunt or a treasure hunt.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing a game, contest or entertainment with television programming or commercials, the method programmed in a memory of a first device comprising:

a. detecting television programming or commercials with which to be synchronized, wherein the television programming or commercials are displayed on a second device; and

b. initiating an application to run simultaneously with the programming, the application displayed on the first device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the application is selected from the group consisting of a scavenger hunt game, a treasure hunt game and bingo.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the game, contest or entertainment is based on the observation of an object or audio or visual event within a television program or commercial, and an execution of an entry on a second screen within a pre-prescribed period of time.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein points awarded decrement beginning with a first appearance of the object or event.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein an amount of points awarded in the application is variable depending on a speed of input by a user.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the television programming or commercials and the application are displayed on a single screen.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the single screen includes displaying the application in a picture-in-picture display, an L-shaped space or a graphic overlay.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein a computing device contained within the first device couples to a server via the Internet, wherein the server stores files and displays to be synchronized with the television programming, and wherein the application is separately displayed for user interaction with the game or contest utilizing a controller for the first device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the television programming is displayed on the second device, further wherein the second device comprises a wi-fi connection or an open wireless technology to a secondary device to display the application.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the programming and the application are synchronized using watermarking or information in audio or video of programming.

10. A device for synchronizing a game, contest or entertainment with television programming or commercials comprising:

a. a memory for storing an application, the application configured for;

i. detecting programming with which to be synchronized; and

ii. presenting the game, contest or entertainment simultaneously with the programming; and

b. a processing component coupled to the memory, the processing component configured for processing the application.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the game is selected from the group consisting of a scavenger hunt game, a treasure hunt game and bingo.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the game or contest is based on the observation of an object or audio or visual event within a television program or commercial, and an execution of an entry on a second screen within a pre-prescribed period of time.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein points awarded decrement beginning with a first appearance of the object or event.

14. The device of claim 10 wherein an amount of points awarded in the application is variable depending on a speed of input by a user.

15. The device of claim 10 wherein the television programming or commercials are displayed on the device.

16. The device of claim 10 wherein the television programming or commercials are displayed on a second device.

17. The device of claim 10 wherein the television programming or commercials and the application are displayed on a single screen.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the single screen includes displaying the application in a picture-in-picture display, an L-shaped space or a graphic overlay.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein a computing device contained within the device couples to a server via the Internet, wherein the server stores files and displays to be synchronized with the programming, and wherein the game or contest is separately displayed for user interaction with the game or contest utilizing a controller for the device.

20. The method of claim 10 wherein the programming is displayed on the device, further wherein the device comprises a wi-fi connection or an open wireless technology to a secondary device to display the game or contest.

22. The device of claim 10 wherein the application is further configured for communicating with a server containing information related to the television programming or commercials.

23. A method of synchronizing a game, contest, or entertainment with television programming or commercials, the method executed by a processor coupled to a television tuner, the method comprising:

a. detecting television programming or commercials with which to be synchronized; and

b. initiating an application to run simultaneously with the programming.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the application is selected from the group consisting of a scavenger hunt game, a treasure hunt game and bingo.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the game, contest or entertainment is based on the observation of an object or audio or visual event within a television program or commercial, and an execution of an entry on a second screen within a pre-prescribed period of time.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein points awarded decrement beginning with a first appearance of the object or event.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein an amount of points awarded in the application is variable depending on a speed of input by a user.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein the television programming or commercials and the application are displayed on a single screen.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the single screen includes displaying the application in a picture-in-picture display, an L-shaped space or a graphic overlay.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein a computing device contained within the first device couples to a server via the Internet, wherein the server stores files and displays to be synchronized with the television programming, and wherein the application is separately displayed for user interaction with the game or contest utilizing a controller for the first device.

31. The method of claim 23 wherein the television programming is displayed on the second device, further wherein a second device comprises a wi-fi connection or an open wireless technology to a secondary device to display the application.

32. The method of claim 23 wherein the programming and the application are synchronized using watermarking or information in audio or video of programming.