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

• US 10,343,071 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2018
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• 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., Berner, Mark K., Micheli, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US15/900,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20180236359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• 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 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/816 Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

A method of 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 competitions groups to join. After joining the desired groups, the 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 method of participating in multiple contests each comprising a plurality of competitors and corresponding to one or more contest events, the method comprising:

a. receiving a list of competitive groups to join on a memory of an Internet connected device;

b. receiving user input including one or more group selections of a plurality of competitive groups available to join, wherein each group of the plurality of competitive groups participates in a separate competition;

c. receiving one or more event selections by users related to the one or more contest events, wherein the one or more event selections enable participating in a plurality of competitive groups in contests conducted simultaneously by sending selections related to the one or more contest events from the memory device to a server;

d. receiving standings and results related to the event selections, wherein the standings in each of the separate competitions are based on the results.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more contest events are selected from the group consisting of a live television-based event, a recorded television event, a scheduled competition, a scheduled series of competitions, a sporting event, an event based on a video game, computer game, mobile game or electronic game conducted in real time, an entertainment show, a game show, a reality show and a news show.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more contest events comprise classic games of skill including card, dice, trivia and word games played simultaneously.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein receiving standings occurs during participating with the plurality of competitive groups.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the standings and winners are separated based on the plurality of competitive groups.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the standings are received periodically and represent relative performance in the separate competitive groups.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the competitive groups are selected from the group consisting of service provider generated competitive groups, user generated competitive groups and third party generated competitive groups.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the service provider generated competitive groups are based on general playing characteristics of the competitors.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the general playing characteristics comprise relative level of skill displayed by users in prior contest events.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the list of competitive groups to join is received on the device selected from the group consisting of a cellular device, a laptop computer, a personal computer, a PDA, or other web connected device.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the competitive groups are maintained in a database.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the results in the one or more contest events are based on handicaps allocated to some or all users.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more contest events comprise multiple games.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the multiple games comprise one or more athletic games.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more contest events comprise multiple games taking place in a single day.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more contest events comprise a variety of events.

17. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more contest events comprise events that occur on multiple days.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the one or more contest events are related to common events.

19. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more contest events comprise a commercial contained in a broadcast.

20. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the results are computed utilizing a handicap.

21. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of competitors include at least 1000 competitors.

22. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of competitors include two competitors.

23. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of competitors are distributed throughout a country.

24. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of competitors are selected randomly.

25. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of competitors are based on user designated affiliation with a professional or amateur athletic team.

26. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of competitors are in more than one country.

27. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising synchronizing the multiple contests of skill with the one or more contest events.

28. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more contest events comprise one or more competitions based on a video game, computer game, mobile game or electronic game.

29. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more contest events comprise one or more competitions conducted in real time based on a video game, computer game, mobile game or electronic game.

30. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more contest events comprise one or more live events.

31. The method as claimed in claim 30 wherein the one or more live events are viewed in person by a person physically attending a venue corresponding to the one or more live events.

32. The method as claimed in claim 30 wherein information related to the one or more live events is received from a physical location corresponding to the one or more live events.

33. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising receiving a lockout signal preventing further additional user input.

34. The method as claimed in claim 33 wherein the lockout signal occurs immediately before competitors in the contests are able to see or hear relevant live action unfold.

35. The method as claimed in claim 33 wherein the lockout signal occurs immediately before a scoring chance in the one or more contest events.

36. The method as claimed in claim 33 wherein the lockout signal involves an in-progress play in the event, not during a stoppage, and preventing submitting the response before a critical element of the in-progress play unfolds.

37. The method as claimed in claim 33 wherein the lockout signal suspends an ability to enter a prediction for a limited amount of time.

38. The method as claimed in claim 37 wherein the lockout signal is initiated before a scoring chance in the one or more contest events and additional user input is allowed after the scoring chance is resolved.

39. The method as claimed in claim 33 wherein the lockout signal applies for an action lasting a limited amount of time.

40. The method as claimed in claim 33 wherein the lockout signal is triggered based on a countdown time presented simultaneously to all competitors.

41. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein user input is suspended before a scoring chance in the one or more contest events and additional user input is allowed after the scoring chance is resolved.

42. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein user input is suspended for a pending event selection involving an in-progress play in the event until a critical element of the in-progress play is either resolved or continues pending and unresolved.

43. The method as claimed in claim 42 wherein the in-progress play comprises a scoring chance by a player or team and is resolved by the player scoring or continues unresolved by the player or team not scoring.

44. The method as claimed in claim 43 wherein if the in-progress play continues unresolved, the pending event selection remains pending until resolved by the player scoring or the event ending.

45. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the competitive groups are determined by relative skill of the competitors.

46. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the competitive groups are formed based on skill based rankings of the competitors.

47. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein within the separate competitions amounts won are based upon amounts contributed by just participants in each group.

48. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein after each scoring event the standings are updated in real time and simultaneously displayed to each user for all competitive groups entered by the user.

49. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a final set of event selections are entered in a plurality of contest events.

50. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of competitors are selected according to an achieved skill level.

51. A server device for simultaneously conducting multiple contests each comprising a plurality of competitors and corresponding to one or more contest events, the server device comprising:

a. a memory configured for receiving user input including a group selection of a plurality of competitive groups available to join, wherein each group of the plurality of competitive groups participates in a separate competition, and receiving one or more event selections by users related to the one or more contest events; and

b. a processor configured for processing the multiple contests corresponding to the one or more contest events, wherein processing the multiple contests is based on a single performance for a user which is separately applied to each of the multiple contests, wherein the server device presents standings and results related to the event selections, wherein the current standings in each of the separate competitions are based on the results.

52. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the one or more contest events are selected from the group consisting of a live television-based event, a recorded television event, a scheduled competition, a scheduled series of competitions, a sporting event, an event based on a video game, computer game, mobile game or electronic game conducted in real time, an entertainment show, a game show, a reality show and a news show.

53. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the one or more contest events comprise classic games of skill including card, dice, trivia and word games played simultaneously.

54. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein receiving standings occurs during participating with the plurality of competitive groups.

55. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the standings and winners are separated based on the plurality of competitive groups.

56. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the standings are received periodically and represent relative performance in the separate competitive groups.

57. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the competitive groups are selected from the group consisting of service provider generated competitive groups, user generated competitive groups and third party generated competitive groups.

58. The server device as claimed in claim 57 wherein the service provider generated competitive groups are based on general playing characteristics of the competitors.

59. The server device as claimed in claim 58 wherein the general playing characteristics comprise relative level of skill displayed by users in prior contest events.

60. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the list of competitive groups to join is received on the device selected from the group consisting of a cellular device, a laptop computer, a personal computer, a PDA, or other web connected device.

61. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the competitive groups are maintained in a database.

62. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the results include a handicap.

63. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the one or more events comprise multiple games.

64. The server device as claimed in claim 63 wherein the multiple games comprise one or more athletic games.

65. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the one or more contest events comprise multiple games taking place in a single day.

66. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the one or more contest events comprise a variety of events.

67. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the one or more contest events comprise events that occur on multiple days.

68. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the one or more contest events are related to common events.

69. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the one or more contest events comprise a commercial contained in a broadcast.

70. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the results are computed utilizing a handicap.

71. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the one or more contest events comprise one or more competitions based on a video game, computer game, mobile game or electronic game.

72. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the plurality of competitors include at least 1000 competitors.

73. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the plurality of competitors include two competitors.

74. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the plurality of competitors are distributed throughout a country.

75. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the plurality of competitors are selected randomly.

76. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the plurality of competitors are based on user designated affiliation with a professional or amateur athletic team.

77. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the plurality of competitors are in more than one country.

78. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the server device is further configured for synchronizing the multiple contests with the one or more contest events.

79. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the one or more contest events comprise one or more competitions based on a video game, computer game, mobile game or electronic game.

80. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the one or more contest events comprise one or more competitions conducted in real time based on a video game, computer game, mobile game or electronic game.

81. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the one or more contest events comprise one or more live events.

82. The server device as claimed in claim 81 wherein the one or more live events are viewed in person by a person physically attending a venue corresponding to the one or more live events.

83. The server device as claimed in claim 81 wherein information related to the one or more live events is received from a physical location corresponding to the one or more live events.

84. The server device as claimed in claim 51 further comprising generating a lockout signal preventing further additional user input.

85. The server device as claimed in claim 84 wherein the lockout signal occurs immediately before competitors in the contests are able to see or hear relevant live action unfold.

86. The server device as claimed in claim 84 wherein the lockout signal occurs immediately before a scoring chance in the one or more contest events.

87. The server device as claimed in claim 84 wherein the lockout signal involves an in-progress play in the event, not during a stoppage, and preventing submitting the response before a critical element of the in-progress play unfolds.

88. The server device as claimed in claim 84 wherein the lockout signal suspends an ability to enter a prediction for a limited amount of time.

89. The server device as claimed in claim 84 wherein the lockout signal is initiated before a scoring chance in the one or more contest events and additional user input is allowed after the scoring chance is resolved.

90. The server device as claimed in claim 84 wherein the lockout signal applies for an action lasting a limited amount of time.

91. The server device as claimed in claim 84 wherein the lockout signal is triggered based on a countdown time presented simultaneously to all competitors.

92. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein user input is suspended before a scoring chance in the one or more contest events and additional user input is allowed after the scoring chance is resolved.

93. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein user input is suspended for a pending event selection involving an in-progress play in the event until a critical element of the in-progress play is either resolved or continues pending and unresolved.

94. The server device as claimed in claim 93 wherein the in-progress play comprises a scoring chance by a player or team and is resolved by the player scoring or continues unresolved by the player or team not scoring.

95. The server device as claimed in claim 94 wherein if the in-progress play continues unresolved, the pending event selection remains pending until resolved by the player scoring or the event ending.

96. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the competitive groups are determined by relative skill of the competitors.

97. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the competitive groups are formed based on skill based rankings of the competitors.

98. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein within the separate competitions amounts won are based upon amounts contributed by just participants in each group.

99. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein after each scoring event the standings are updated in real time and simultaneously displayed to each user for all competitive groups entered by the user.

100. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein a final set of event selections are entered in a plurality of contest events.

101. The server device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the plurality of competitors are selected according to an achieved skill level.

102. An Internet connected device for participating in simultaneously conducted multiple contests each comprising a plurality of competitors and corresponding to one or more contest events, the device 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 contests wherein the application enables an individual user to join a plurality of competitive groups for the one or more contest events, wherein the application is configured for receiving user input including a group selection of the plurality of competitive groups available to join, wherein each group of the plurality of competitive groups participates in a separate competition; and

receiving one or more event selections by users related to the one or more contest events, wherein the application presents standings and results related to the event selections, wherein the standings in each of the separate competitions are based on the results.

103. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the application utilizes the communications module for coupling to the server to send selections to and receive standings from the server.

104. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the one or more contest events comprise multiple games.

105. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 104 wherein the multiple games comprise one or more athletic games.

106. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the one or more contest events are selected from the group consisting of a live television-based event, a recorded television event, a scheduled competition, a scheduled series of competitions, a sporting event, an event based on a video game, computer game, mobile game or electronic game conducted in real time, an entertainment show, a game show, a reality show and a news show.

107. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the one or more contest events comprise classic games of skill including card, dice, trivia and word games played simultaneously.

108. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein receiving standings occurs during participating with the plurality of competitive groups.

109. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the standings and winners are separated based on the plurality of competitive groups.

110. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the standings are received periodically and represent relative performance in the separate competitive groups.

111. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the competitive groups are selected from the group consisting of service provider generated competitive groups, user generated competitive groups and third party generated competitive groups.

112. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 111 wherein the service provider generated competitive groups are based on general playing characteristics of the competitors.

113. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 112 wherein the general playing characteristics comprise relative level of skill displayed by users in prior contest events.

114. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the list of competitive groups to join is received on the device selected from the group consisting of a cellular device, a laptop computer, a personal computer, a PDA, or other web connected device.

115. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the competitive groups are maintained in a database.

116. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the results include a handicap.

117. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the one or more contest events comprise multiple games taking place in a single day.

118. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the one or more contest events comprise a variety of events.

119. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the one or more contest events comprise events that occur on multiple days.

120. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the one or more contest events are related to common events.

121. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the one or more contest events comprise a commercial contained in a broadcast.

122. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the results are computed utilizing a handicap.

123. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the one or more contest events comprise one or more competitions based on a video game, computer game, mobile game or electronic game.

124. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the one or more contest events comprise one or more competitions conducted in real time based on a video game, computer game, mobile game or electronic game.

125. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the plurality of competitors include at least 1000 competitors.

126. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the plurality of competitors include two competitors.

127. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the plurality of competitors are distributed throughout a country.

128. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the plurality of competitors are selected randomly.

129. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the plurality of competitors are based on user designated affiliation with a professional or amateur athletic team.

130. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the plurality of competitors are in more than one country.

131. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the device is further configured for synchronizing the multiple contests of skill with the one or more contest events.

132. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the one or more contest events comprise one or more live events.

133. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 132 wherein the one or more live events are viewed in person by a person physically attending a venue corresponding to the one or more live events.

134. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 132 wherein information related to the one or more live events is received from a physical location corresponding to the one or more live events.

135. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 further comprising receiving a lockout signal preventing further additional user input.

136. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 135 wherein the lockout signal occurs immediately before competitors in the contests are able to see or hear relevant live action unfold.

137. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 135 wherein the lockout signal occurs immediately before a scoring chance in the one or more contest events.

138. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 135 wherein the lockout signal involves an in-progress play in the event, not during a stoppage, and preventing submitting the response before a critical element of the in-progress play unfolds.

139. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 135 wherein the lockout signal suspends an ability to enter a prediction for a limited amount of time.

140. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 135 wherein the lockout signal is initiated before a scoring chance in the one or more contest events and additional user input is allowed after the scoring chance is resolved.

141. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 135 wherein the lockout signal applies for an action lasting a limited amount of time.

142. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 135 wherein the lockout signal is triggered based on a countdown time presented simultaneously to all competitors.

143. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein user input is suspended before a scoring chance in the one or more contest events and additional user input is allowed after the scoring chance is resolved.

144. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein user input is suspended for a pending event selection involving an in-progress play in the event until a critical element of the in-progress play is either resolved or continues pending and unresolved.

145. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 144 wherein the in-progress play comprises a scoring chance by a player or team and is resolved by the player scoring or continues unresolved by the player or team not scoring.

146. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 145 wherein if the in-progress play continues unresolved, the pending event selection remains pending until resolved by the player scoring or the event ending.

147. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the groups are determined by relative skill of the competitors.

148. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the competitive groups are formed based on skill based rankings of the competitors.

149. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein within the separate competitions amounts won are based upon amounts contributed by just participants in each group.

150. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein after each scoring event the standings are updated in real time and simultaneously displayed to each user for all competitive groups entered by the user.

151. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein a final set of event selections are entered in a plurality of contest events.

152. The Internet-connected device as claimed in claim 102 wherein the plurality of competitors are selected according to an achieved skill level.

153. A graphical user interface for displaying a game of skill played by a plurality of players viewing one or more events, wherein the graphical user interface is stored in a non-transitory memory and displayed on a display of a device, wherein the graphical user interface is associated with an application, the graphical user interface comprising:

a list of competitive participant groups to join;

an input receiving component for receiving user input including one or more group selections of a plurality of competitive groups available to join, wherein each group of the plurality of competitive groups participates in a separate competition;

an additional input receiving component for receiving additional user input including one or more event selections by users related to the one or more contest events, wherein the one or more event selections enable participating in a plurality of competitive groups by sending selections related to the one or more contest events to a server; and

standings and results related to the event selections, wherein the standings in each of the separate competitions are based on the results.