System and method for providing secondary gaming

• US 9,855,503 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2011
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rishi Nangia
• Original Assignee: Rishi Nangia
• Inventors: Nangia, Rishi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ROSS A
• Application Number:
  US13/038,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20150352449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,499 Days
• Field of Search: 463 40- 42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/828 Managing virtual sport teams
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3281 wherein game attributes are transferred between players, e.g. points, weapons, avatars

Abstract

A system and method for providing secondary gaming for fantasy sports to provide more interactive, robust and comprehensive fantasy sports gaming. A secondary game involves one or more fantasy sports players, one or more statistics to measure fantasy performance of the players, one or more time period in which to evaluate the fantasy player, and a game value amount, which is the consideration contested in the fantasy game. Accordingly, Users may place wagers on the expected performance of fantasy players or teams in a fantasy league regardless of whether the party is a participant in the league. The system may be functionally connected to the league software manager to provide real-time registration, submission, monitoring, and submission of second games.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of providing a secondary fantasy sports game to supplement a primary fantasy sports game of a fantasy sports league, the fantasy sports league having multiple teams, each with a plurality of fantasy players corresponding to real-life players, and scheduled over multiple real-life games, the method comprising:

confirming, on a network server, membership of at least a first participant and a second participant in the same fantasy league for the primary fantasy sports game, wherein an outcome of the secondary fantasy sports game is independent of the primary fantasy sports game;

establishing an electronic communications connection between the network server and an account server holding an account for each of the first and second participants;

providing an electronic graphical user interface on a client device configured for entering on the network server parameters for the secondary fantasy sports game between at least the first participant and the second participant based on a comparison between an accrued fantasy value for each of the first and second participants;

receiving, on the network server, from the client device of the first participant, parameters defining the secondary fantasy sports game, wherein the parameters comprise;

a selection of one or more players;

wherein performance of the one or more players is measurable;

wherein at least one player is assigned to the first participant and at least one player is assigned to the second participant in the secondary fantasy sports game; and

wherein the selection of players assigned to each participant in the secondary game is not limited by the players assigned to each participant in the primary fantasy sports game in the fantasy league;

a statistic on which the selection of players is compared and a winner between the first and second participants is determined;

a time period for the secondary fantasy sports game during which the performance of the selection of players is measured against the statistic;

a predetermined conversion factor relating the performance of the selection of players to the statistic; and

a value of consideration placed between the first and second participants for the secondary game;

registering, on the network server, the secondary fantasy sports game received from the client device of the first participant;

establishing access to an electronic data feed of real-life sports data to the network server, the data feed providing an updated value of the statistic related to the one or more players selected;

determining, by using a processor of the network server for evaluating the conversion factor and the received updated value of the statistic for each of the one or more players, a winner and a loser of the secondary game from the among the first and second participants at a conclusion of the time period, based on a comparison of the updated value of the statistic received from the electronic data feed, the participant having a higher value for the statistic being the winner;

recording on the network server at least the winner of the secondary fantasy sports game;

generating and transmitting an electronic alert to the first and second participants informing such participants of the determined winner and loser;

processing on the network server the value of consideration to be awardable to the determined winner of the secondary fantasy sports game, and the consideration equally debitable from the determined loser of the secondary fantasy sports game;

automatically reconciling the value of consideration by electronically communicating with the account server to electronically transfer the value of consideration between the determined loser and the determined winner; and

electronically displaying indicia of such transfer to each of the first and second participants through graphical user interfaces of client devices of the first and second participants.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data feed provides the statistic in substantially real-time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary game is between two participants.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each fantasy player has a corresponding position designation and selection of players is without regard to a position requirement.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the time period is less than a fantasy season for the primary game.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the time period is for more than a time period for the primary game.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the time period covers one real-life game for each player.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the time period includes at least two non-consecutive games in the fantasy season for the primary game.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of players for the first participant in the secondary game does not match the first participants'"'"' players in the primary game of the fantasy league.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the parameters input on the client device of the first participant to the client device of the second participant;

wherein the parameters further include a identification of a second participant;

providing an electronic graphical user interface on a second client device configured for entering acceptance of the parameters by the second participant;

receiving on the network server confirmation from the second client device of the second participant regarding the parameters;

registering on the network server the secondary game upon the confirmation from the second participant; and

initiating the data feed for the selection of one or more players in the secondary game.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the parameters on the network server to the client device of the second participant;

providing an electronic graphical user interface on a second client device configured for entering amendments to the parameters by the second participant;

receiving on the network server a modification to the parameters from the second client device;

transmitting the modification of the parameters to the client device of the first participant;

providing the electronic graphical user interface on the client device of the first participant, wherein the graphical user interface is configured for entering acceptance of the parameters by the first participant;

receiving on the network server confirmation from the client device of the first participant regarding the parameters;

registering on the network server the secondary game upon the confirmation from the first participant; and

initiating the data feed for the selection of one or more players in the secondary game.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the consideration for the secondary game is less than a cost for entry into the primary league.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary fantasy league is hosted on a second server configured to share information related to the primary league to the network server.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the consideration for the secondary game is separate from a cost for the primary league.

24. The method of claim 5, wherein the time period for the secondary game falls within the fantasy season for the primary game.

14. A computer-implemented, fantasy sports game system provided on a network server, the game comprising:

at least one network server;

a graphical user interface accessible through one or more client devices allowing input of the game on the network server and configured to communicate with a network server;

an account server integrated with the network server, the account server having an account for each of the first and second participants;

a data feed functionally integrated with the network server providing measurement data;

an electronic game provided through the graphical user interface having a capacity for two or more participants, each participant having access to the game through the one or more client devices, and competing for a mutually exclusive outcome based on an aggregate performance of one or more fantasy players assigned to each participant, a winner participant having a higher aggregate performance of the one or more fantasy players among the two or more participants, the game comprising;

the one or more fantasy players assigned to each participant;

wherein the fantasy players correspond to players in one or more sports;

wherein each fantasy player has a measurable performance and a player position;

wherein an aggregate composition of fantasy players assigned to each participant is not limited by a requirement to meet a player position requirement or a requirement to fill a fantasy roster;

measurement data received by the network server relating to the performance of each of the one or more fantasy players;

a predetermined conversion factor to transform the measurement data to a fantasy value by applying the conversion factor to the measurement data;

a time period in which the measurement data is applicable, wherein the time period is comprised of one or more real-life games in the one or more sports;

wherein each of the one or more fantasy players accrues the fantasy value in each real-life game during the time period;

a value placed at risk based on an outcome of the game;

the fantasy value calculated by the network server for each player over the time period;

an aggregation of the fantasy value for each player assigned to each participant;

a determination of the winner participant by the network server based on such aggregated fantasy values;

an alert component related to the determination of the winner, wherein such alert component informs the first and second participants of the winner and a loser; and

an account module in communication with the account server and network server to automatically reconcile the value at the end of the time period based to the winner and loser configured to transfer the value to the account of the winner from the account of the loser.

15. The game of claim 14, wherein the sport is selected from a group consisting of basketball, baseball, football, and hockey.

16. The game of claim 15, wherein the sport is football and wherein the fantasy aggregate composition of fantasy players assigned to the two or more participants consists of no more than four different player positions per participant.

17. The game of claim 14, wherein the sport is football and the time period is less than thirteen games.

18. The game of claim 17, wherein the time period is less than eight weeks.

19. The game of claim 14, wherein the time period is period selectable by the two or more participants without limitation.

20. The game of claim 15, wherein each fantasy team is assigned no more than two fantasy players and the time period is two football games per fantasy player.

21. The game of claim 20, wherein each fantasy team is assigned one fantasy player and the time period is one football game per fantasy player.

22. A computer-implemented method of providing a fantasy sports game comprising:

establishing an automated data feed of measurement data to a network server;

providing an electronic medium on the network server hosting the fantasy game between at least a first participant and a second participant, each participant having access to the game through a graphical user interface on a client device configured to communicate with the network server, wherein parameters of the game comprise;

a selection of one or more fantasy players assigned to a first participant and to a second participant;

wherein each fantasy player has a measurable performance;

wherein at least one player is assigned to the first participant and at least one player is assigned to the second participant for the game;

wherein an aggregate composition of fantasy players assigned to each participant is not limited by a requirement to satisfy prescribed player positions;

a predetermined conversion factor to relate the measurement data to a fantasy value;

a time period in which the measurement data is applicable, wherein the time period is comprised of one or more games of the one or more fantasy players;

wherein each of the one or more fantasy players accrues the fantasy value in each game of the time period;

a value placed at risk based on an outcome of the fantasy sports game;

receiving the game from the client device of the first participant on the network server;

registering the game on the network server;

communicating with an account having the value placed at risk for each participant on the network server,

wherein the network server verifies each participant'"'"'s value placed at risk and access such value placed at risk;

processing on the network server the fantasy value by applying the conversion factor to the measurement data related to the performance of each player for each of the one or more players;

calculating on the network server a first aggregate fantasy value attributed to the first participant and a second aggregate fantasy value attributed to the second participant;

comparing on the network server the first aggregate fantasy value to the second aggregate fantasy value;

determining, at the end of the time period, on the network server a winner between the first participant and the second participant based on a higher aggregate fantasy value between the first participant and the second participant;

recording on the network server the winner;

awarding the value at risk to the winner;

automatically reconciling through the network server the account for the first participant and the account for the second participant after determination of the winner by crediting the value placed at risk to the account of the winner and debiting the value placed at risk from the account of the other participant;

creating a notification to the first and second participants informing such participants of the winner and a loser; and

electronically displaying such transfer to each participant through the graphical user interface;

an alert component related to the determination of the winner, wherein such alert component informs the first and second participants of the winner and a loser; and

an account module in communication with the account server and network server to automatically reconcile the value at the end of the time period based to the winner and loser configured to transfer the value to the account of the winner from the account of the loser.

25. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a plurality

of instructions, that when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

provide an electronic fantasy sports game through a graphical user interface, wherein the game has capacity for two or more participants competing for a mutually exclusive outcome based on an aggregate performance of one or more fantasy players assigned to each participant, and wherein the game has a plurality of selectable options for playing the game;

in response to a selection of the options for playing the game by a first participant, provide to the first participant a plurality of fantasy sports players,

wherein the fantasy players correspond to players in one or more sports; and

wherein each fantasy player has a measurable performance and a player position

in response to a selection of one or more players by the first participant, provide the selection of one or more players assigned to the first participant,

wherein an aggregate composition of fantasy players assigned to the first participant is not limited by a requirement to meet a player position requirement or a requirement to fill a fantasy roster;

in response to the assignment of players to the first participant, provide to the first participant a plurality of fantasy sports players for assignment to a second participant;

in response to a selection of one or more players for the second participant, provide a plurality of selections of one or more players assigned to the second participant,

wherein an aggregate composition of fantasy players assigned to the second participant is not limited by a requirement to meet a player position requirement or a requirement to fill a fantasy roster;

in response to the assignment of players to the second participant, provide to the first participant a plurality of selections for a time period, wherein the time period covers at least one real-life game for each of the one or more players assigned to the first and second participants, and wherein each of the one or more fantasy players accrues a fantasy value in the time period;

in response to the selection of the time period by the first participant, provide to the first participant a plurality of selections for a value placed at risk;

in response to the selection of the value by the first participant, provide to second user an option to modify the selection of one or more players assigned to the first and second participants, the time period, and the value;

receive from the first participant and the second participant an instruction to complete the selectable options;

determine, on a computer system and from a data feed, a fantasy value for each player assigned to the first and second participants based on performance of such player and a predetermined conversion factor;

determine, on the computer system, an aggregation of the fantasy values for each player assigned to each participant;

determine, on the computer system, a winner participant based on the aggregated fantasy values, a winner participant having a higher aggregation of fantasy value of the one or more fantasy players among the two or more participants.

26. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 25, further comprising instructions to:

alert first and second participants of the winner and a loser; and

automatically reconcile the value to the winner and loser participant.