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

• US 10,556,183 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2013
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Winview IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: WinView Incorporated (GameSquare Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lockton, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US13/859,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20130225285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,499 Days
• 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: 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 conducting multiple competitions of skill for a single performance is 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 a competition with a closed group of participants programmed in a non-transitory memory of a device, the method comprising:

joining the closed group of participants, wherein the closed group of participants is based on personal contacts including the contacts on a mobile device or on a social networking site;

downloading a game including a computer-generated gameplay;

executing the game specific to the closed group of participants, wherein the computer-generated gameplay provides a same sequence of events for each participant, wherein each participant is permitted to play the game at any time during a specified time period, wherein a game server adjusts data files for the game to affect the computer-generated gameplay, wherein affecting the computer-generated gameplay involves utilizing lock outs precluding further response to a game element;

synchronizing the game with content by detecting the content and ensuring the computer-generated gameplay is synchronized with the content for each participant;

providing a score for each participant based on the participant'"'"'s performance during the participant'"'"'s play of the game;

sending the score for a participant to a database upon completion of the participant'"'"'s game; and

receiving the scores of all of the participants upon detection of completion of the game of the last participant to finish the game.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the computer-generated gameplay includes randomly generates a unique game and presents each game element identical for every participant of the closed group of participants.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the competition begins after generating the closed group, where results are sent to each participant upon receipt of the score of a last participant to complete the game.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the competition is one or more scheduled competitions.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the competition is conducted over a period of time longer than a daily competition.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising initiating the competition.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein initiating the competition includes notifying participants of the closed group to download the game for the competition.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein initiating the competition includes notifying participants of the closed group information on how to play the game online.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein initiating the competition includes sending an SMS, email, a social network message, or other message notification to each of the participants of the closed group.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein initiating the competition includes automatically providing the game as an application to the participants in the group.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating the game specific to the group.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the closed group comprises participants selected by another participant to participate in a game.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the computer-generated gameplay includes presenting a random card, dice or word identical for every participant of the closed group of participants.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising coupling to the social networking site to participate in the game.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising inviting the personal contacts of a user of the social networking site to join the closed group of participants.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the content of the game utilizes video presented within the game.

17. A method of providing a competition with a closed group of participants programmed in a non-transitory memory of a device, the method comprising:

generating the closed group of participants by selecting participants from a list of participants, wherein the list of participants is based on personal contacts including the contacts on a mobile device or on a social networking site;

inviting the personal contacts of a user to join the closed group of participants;

generating a game application including a computer-generated gameplay specific to the closed group of participants, wherein the computer-generated gameplay provides a same sequence of events and a response time window for each participant, wherein a game server adjusts data files for the game to affect the computer-generated gameplay, wherein affecting the computer-generated gameplay involves utilizing lock outs precluding further response to a game element presented at an identical relative time within the game;

initiating the competition including notifying participants of the closed group to download a game application for the competition;

executing the game application, wherein each participant is permitted to play the game at any time during a specified time period;

synchronizing the game with content by detecting the content and ensuring the computer-generated gameplay is synchronized with the content for each participant;

detecting completion of the game of the last participant to finish the game;

providing a score and ranking for each participant based on the participant'"'"'s performance during execution of the game application; and

sending the score for a participant to a database upon completion of the participant'"'"'s game, sending the score from the database to all participants, and sending the scores and the rankings of all of the participants to the participants upon detection of completion of the game of the last participant to finish the game.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the competition is a daily competition.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the competition is conducted over a period of time longer than a daily competition.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein initiating the competition includes sending an SMS, email, a social network message, or other message notification to each of the participants of the closed group.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the closed group comprises participants selected by another participant to participate in the competition.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein the content of the game utilizes video presented within the game.

23. A device comprising:

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

joining a closed group of participants by selecting participants from a list of participants, wherein the list of participants is based on personal contacts including the contacts on a mobile device or on a social networking site;

downloading a game including a computer-generated gameplay;

coupling to the social networking site to participate in the game;

inviting the personal contacts of a user of the social networking site to join the closed group of participants;

executing the game, wherein each participant is permitted to play the game at any time during a specified time period, wherein the computer-generated gameplay is the same for each participant, wherein a game server adjusts data files for the game to affect the computer-generated gameplay, wherein affecting the computer-generated gameplay involves utilizing lock outs precluding further response to a game element;

synchronizing the game with content by detecting the content and ensuring the computer-generated gameplay is synchronized with the content for each participant;

receiving a score and ranking for each participant based on the participant'"'"'s performance during the game;

sending the score for a participant to a database upon completion of the participant'"'"'s game; and

receiving the scores and the rankings of all of the participants to the participants upon detection of completion of the game of the last participant to finish the game; and

a processor for processing the application.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the content of the game utilizes video presented within the game.

25. A method of participating in a competition with a closed group of participants programmed in a non-transitory memory of a device, the method comprising:

generating the closed group of participants, wherein the closed group of participants is based on contacts loaded into the memory of the device;

downloading a game including a computer-generated gameplay;

inviting the contacts of a user to join the closed group of participants;

executing the game specific to the closed group of participants, wherein the computer-generated gameplay provides a same sequence of events for each participant, wherein each participant is permitted to play the game at any time during a specified time period, wherein a game server adjusts data files for the game to affect the computer-generated gameplay, wherein affecting the computer-generated gameplay involves utilizing lock outs precluding further response to a game element;

synchronizing the game with content by detecting the content and ensuring the computer-generated gameplay is synchronized with the content for each participant;

detecting completion of the game of the last participant to finish the game;

providing a score for each participant based on the participant'"'"'s performance during the game;

sending the score for a participant to a database upon completion of the participant'"'"'s game; and

receiving the scores of all of the participants upon detection of completion of the game of the last participant to finish the game.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the computer-generated gameplay includes a random presentation of each game element identical for every participant of the closed group of participants.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the competition begins after generating the closed group.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the competition is one or more daily competitions.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the competition is conducted over a period of time longer than a daily competition.

30. The method of claim 25 further comprising initiating the competition.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein initiating the competition includes notifying participants of the closed group to download the game for the competition.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein initiating the competition includes notifying participants of the closed group information on how to play the game.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein initiating the competition includes sending an SMS message or other push notification to each of the participants of the closed group.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein initiating the competition includes automatically providing the game as an application to the participants in the group.

35. The method of claim 25 further comprising generating the game specific to the group.

36. The method of claim 25 wherein the closed group comprises participants selected by another participant to participate in a game.

37. The method of claim 25 wherein the computer-generated gameplay includes presenting a game element identical for every participant of the closed group of participants.

38. The method of claim 25 wherein the content of the game utilizes video presented within the game.

39. A method of providing a competition with a closed group of participants programmed in a non-transitory memory of a device, the method comprising:

generating the closed group of participants by selecting participants from a list of participants, wherein the list of participants is based on contacts loaded into the memory of the device;

inviting the contacts of a user to join the closed group of participants;

generating a game application including a computer-generated gameplay specific to the closed group of participants, wherein the computer-generated gameplay provides a same sequence of events for each participant, wherein a game server adjusts data files for the game to affect the computer-generated gameplay, wherein affecting the computer-generated gameplay involves utilizing lock outs precluding further response to a game element;

executing the game application, wherein each participant is permitted to play the game at any time during a specified time period;

synchronizing the game with content by detecting the content and ensuring the computer-generated gameplay is synchronized with the content for each participant;

detecting completion of the game of the last participant to finish the game;

providing a score and ranking for each participant based on the participant'"'"'s performance during execution of the game application; and

sending the score for a participant to a database upon completion of the last participant'"'"'s game, sending the score from the database to all participants, and sending the scores and the rankings of all of the participants to the participants upon detection of completion of the game of the last participant to finish the game.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the competition is one or more daily competitions.

41. The method of claim 39 wherein the competition is conducted over a period of time longer than a daily competition.

42. The method of claim 39 wherein initiating the competition includes sending an SMS, email, a social network message, or other message notification to each of the participants of the closed group.

43. The method of claim 39 wherein the closed group comprises participants selected by another participant to participate in the competition.

44. The method of claim 39 wherein the content of the game utilizes video presented within the game.

45. A device comprising:

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

generating a closed group of participants by selecting participants from a list of participants, wherein the list of participants is based on contacts loaded into the memory;

downloading a game including a computer-generated gameplay;

inviting the contacts of a user to join the closed group of participants;

executing the game, wherein each participant is permitted to play the game at any time during a specified time period, wherein the computer-generated gameplay is the same for each participant, wherein a game server adjusts data files for the game to affect the computer-generated gameplay, wherein affecting the computer-generated gameplay involves utilizing lock outs;

synchronizing the game with content by detecting the content and ensuring the computer-generated gameplay is synchronized with the content for each participant;

detecting completion of the game of the last participant to finish the game;

providing a score and ranking for each participant based on the participant'"'"'s performance during the game;

sending the score for a participant to a database upon completion of the participant'"'"'s game; and

receiving the scores and the rankings of all of the participants to the participants upon detection of completion of the game of the last participant to finish the game; and

reusing the closed group of participants for a second competition of the game; and

a processor for processing the application.

46. The device of claim 45 wherein the content of the game utilizes video presented within the game.

47. A method of participating in a competition with a closed group of participants programmed in a non-transitory memory of a device, the method comprising:

joining the closed group of participants, wherein the closed group of participants is based on personal contacts including the contacts on a mobile device or on a social networking site;

inviting the personal contacts of a user to join the closed group of participants;

executing the game specific to the closed group of participants, wherein the computer-generated gameplay provides a same sequence of events for each participant;

synchronizing the game with content by detecting the content and ensuring the computer-generated gameplay is synchronized with the content for each participant;

detecting completion of the game of the last participant to finish the game;

providing a score for each participant based on the participant'"'"'s performance during the game;

sending the score for a participant to a remote device upon completion of the participant'"'"'s game; and

receiving the scores of all of the participants to the participants upon detection of completion of the game of the last participant to finish the game.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the content of the game utilizes video presented within the game.