Method of and system for managing client resources and assets for activities on computing devices

• US 10,721,543 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2018
• Issued: 07/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Winview IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: WinView Incorporated (GameSquare Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huske, Tim, Micheli, Mark J., Berner, Mark K., Ford, Matt, Lockton, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean, Frantz B
• Application Number:
  US16/216,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20190110111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 709203, 709231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43074 of additional data with content streams on the same device, e.g. of EPG data or interactive icon with a TV program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/442 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/29; arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information H04H60/35; monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; monitoring in wireless networks H04W24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4431 characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A method of and system for enabling a distributed entertainment system over a computing device is described herein. When implementing a distributed entertainment system wherein the entertainment system is directly correlated to live events or televised programs, there are a number of issues that must be addressed such as differing timing and channels of television programs and separate state laws. Furthermore, there are a plethora of varying computing device models possibly requiring model-specific software. An “Activity Client” is provided to handle such concerns. Furthermore, since time is of the essence for activities based on live or televised events, it is necessary to ensure a computing device is able to receive the necessary updates for the program before the event begins. By providing only the needed components instead of entire data packages, the present invention is able to much more efficiently prepare users'"'"' computing devices in time.

Claims

1. A method of implementing a consumer service on a mobile web-connected computing device comprising:

loading a set of service related information located on a server related to a geographic location of the mobile web-connected computing device to an activity client, wherein the geographic location of the mobile web-connected computing device determines the set of service related information to be loaded from the server, wherein the set of service related information includes service related information relative to the geographic location of the mobile web-connected computing device, and further wherein as the geographic location of the mobile web-connected computing device changes, different service related information is presented through the activity client based on the geographic location;

selecting an option from the activity client from a list of available options;

downloading a set of service-specific information related to a selected option from a server to the mobile web-connected computing device; and

executing an application related to the selected option within the activity client on the mobile web-connected computing device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

downloading the activity client to the mobile device; and

selecting and registering with a service provider.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein registering with the service provider includes information relevant to location-based options provided to the activity client.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the activity client is a program for managing activity information and data.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a user status includes user-controlled sharing of a user'"'"'s continuously changing physical location.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the user'"'"'s continuously changing physical location is shared with others through the activity client.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing information within the application related to the user'"'"'s position, wherein the information changes as the user'"'"'s position changes.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the activity client contains information relating to an entertainment experience which utilizes a user'"'"'s current geographical location as a component of the entertainment experience.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a user status including identifying a current geographic location of the mobile web-connected computing device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein executing the application is in real-time in response to the mobile web-connected computing device'"'"'s changing location, and wherein executing the application includes information concerning other users of the application changing location.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of service related information is continually broadcast from the server and received at the mobile web-connected computing device.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein an activity interpreter resident in the activity client is used to execute the application.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the activity interpreter combines the activity, a service and device instructions to execute the service in real-time.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the application is selected from the group consisting of a game of skill or chance, a survey, a poll, an interactive activity, a location-dependent service, a music service, a game service, and web browsing service.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile web-connected computing device is a wireless device.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile web-connected computing device includes:

a set-top box, a personal computer, a gaming console, a laptop computer, a cell phone, a PDA or a combination device.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a list of assets from the server;

comparing the list of assets with a first set of assets on the mobile web-connected computing device; and

receiving only a second set of assets within the list of assets that are not already resident on the mobile web-connected computing device.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising improving efficiency by prioritizing the second set of assets.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the second set of assets are grouped into a set of necessary assets and a set of preferred assets.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein a service provider providing the set of service related information comprises or is related to:

a chance-based real-time sports prediction service,

a chance-based real-time sports wagering service,

a skill-based real-time prediction service,

an entertainment game-based service,

a television-related chance/skill wagering service,

multiple athletic contests taking place in a single day,

a partial athletic contest,

a taped event,

a televised athletic contest,

a weekly event,

a week-long event,

a competitive game show,

an awards program,

multiple contests,

athletic contests, or

simultaneously played electronic, video, computer, card, dice, trivia, word, math and puzzle games.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of service related information relates to:

a television-based event, a scheduled competition, a scheduled series of competitions, a sporting event, a real-time skill and chance-based sports prediction games, an event based on a video game, a computer game, an electronic game, a cell phone game, an entertainment show, a game show, an awards show, a reality show, a show, a game, a news show or a commercial contained in a broadcast.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein multiple wagering options are available for the service.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein a user enters credit card information to be eligible to utilize the service.

24. The method of claim 9 wherein identifying the user status includes identifying an age, a location and credit status of a user.

25. The method of claim 9 wherein identifying the user status includes a determination that a user does not qualify to utilize the consumer service.

26. The method of claim 9 wherein identifying the user status includes verifying the existence of an account with the consumer service.

27. The method of claim 9 wherein identifying the user status includes identifying a residence or domicile of the user.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of service related information is stored in RAM.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein the application is synchronized with television programming or Internet-delivered programming.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of service related information is related to a person.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of service related information is related to an event.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the event comprises a live event.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the live event is viewed in person by the user physically attending a location corresponding to the event.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein information related to the live event is received from a physical location corresponding to the live event.

35. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of service related information is related to multiple wagering options for multiple athletic contests.

36. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of service related information includes fixed odds proposition-based wagering options.

37. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of service related information is related to a real time sports prediction service which offers fixed odds propositions related to a selected event.

38. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of service related information is related to a fixed odds, proposition based, wagering service.

39. The method of claim 1 wherein the user enters credit card information to be eligible to utilize the service.

40. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a user status including verifying the existence of a valid account with a service.

41. The method of claim 1 wherein the service comprises a location-based service.

42. The method of claim 1 wherein the service involves a monetary award.

43. The method of claim 1 wherein the service requires a payment to utilize.

44. The method of claim 1 wherein the application enables continual receipt and updating of service related information based on the location information.

45. The method of claim 1 wherein the geographic location is determined to an accuracy of less than 10 feet.

46. The method of claim 1 wherein the service related information comprises one or more links to one or more websites.

47. The method of claim 1 wherein the service related information provides an educational experience.

48. The method of claim 1 wherein the service related information is related to a conveyance related service.

49. A method of implementing a consumer service on a server comprising:

transmitting a set of service related information related to a geographic location of a mobile Internet-connected computing device to an application, wherein the geographic location of the mobile Internet-connected computing device determines the set of service related information to be transmitted, wherein the set of service related information includes service related information which is relative to and dependent on the geographic location of the mobile Internet-connected computing device;

receiving a selection related to the consumer service, and further wherein as the geographic location of the mobile Internet-connected computing device changes, different service related information is presented within the application based on the geographic location;

transmitting a set of selection information related to the selection from the server to the mobile Internet-connected computing device; and

receiving additional information based on a user'"'"'s execution of the application on the mobile Internet-connected computing device.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein an activity client is a program for managing the service related information and data.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein at an option of the user, the set of service related information is continually updated as the geographic location of the mobile Internet-connected computing device changes.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein a user status includes user-controlled sharing of a user'"'"'s continuously changing physical location.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the user'"'"'s continuously changing physical location is shared with others through the activity client.

54. The method of claim 49 further comprising providing information within the application related to the user'"'"'s position, wherein the information changes as the user'"'"'s position changes.

55. The method of claim 49 wherein an activity client contains information relating to a game which utilizes a user'"'"'s current geographical location as a component of the game.

56. The method of claim 49 further comprising identifying a user status including identifying a current geographic location of the mobile web-connected computing device.

57. The method of claim 49 wherein executing the application is in real-time in response to the mobile web-connected computing device'"'"'s changing location, and wherein executing the application includes information concerning other users of the application changing location.

58. The method of claim 49 wherein the set of service related information is continually broadcast from the server and received at the mobile web-connected computing device.

59. The method of claim 49 wherein an activity interpreter resident in an activity client is used to execute the application.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the activity interpreter combines the activity, a service and device instructions to execute the activity in real-time.

61. The method of claim 49 wherein the application is selected from the group consisting of a game of skill or chance, a survey, poll, an interactive activity, a location-dependent service, a music service, a game service, and web browsing service.

62. The method of claim 49 wherein the application is synchronized with television programming or Internet-delivered programming.

63. The method of claim 49 wherein the mobile web-connected computing device is a wireless device.

64. The method of claim 49 wherein the mobile web-connected computing device includes:

a set-top box, a personal computer, a gaming console, a laptop computer, a cell phone, a PDA or a combination device.

65. The method of claim 49 further comprising:

receiving a list of assets from the server;

comparing the list of assets with a first set of assets on the mobile web-connected computing device; and

receiving only a second set of assets within the list of assets that are not already resident on the mobile web-connected computing device.

66. The method of claim 65 further comprising improving efficiency by prioritizing the second set of assets.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein the second set of assets are grouped into a set of necessary assets and a set of preferred assets.

68. The method of claim 49 wherein a service provider providing the set of service related information comprises or is related to:

a chance-based real-time sports prediction service,

a chance-based real-time sports wagering service,

a skill-based real-time prediction service,

an entertainment game-based service,

a television-related chance/skill wagering service,

multiple athletic contests taking place in a single day,

a partial athletic contest,

a taped event,

a televised athletic contest,

a weekly event,

a week-long event,

a competitive game show,

an awards program,

multiple contests,

athletic contests, or

simultaneously played electronic, video, computer, card, dice, trivia, word, math and puzzle games.

69. The method of claim 49 wherein the set of service related information relates to:

a television-based event, a scheduled competition, a scheduled series of competitions, a sporting event, a real-time skill and chance-based sports prediction games, an event based on a video game, a computer game, an electronic game, a cell phone game, an entertainment show, a game show, an awards show, a reality show, a show, a game, a news show or a commercial contained in a broadcast.

70. The method of claim 49 wherein multiple wagering options are available for the service.

71. The method of claim 49 wherein a user enters credit card information to be eligible to utilize the service.

72. The method of claim 56 wherein identifying the user status includes identifying an age, a location and a credit status of a user.

73. The method of claim 56 wherein identifying the user status includes a determination that a user does not qualify to utilize the consumer service.

74. The method of claim 56 wherein identifying the user status includes verifying the existence of a valid account with the consumer service.

75. The method of claim 56 wherein identifying the user status includes identifying a residence or domicile of the user.

76. The method of claim 49 further comprising registering with a service provider including information relevant to location-based options provided to the activity client.

77. The method of claim 49 wherein the set of service related information is related to a person.

78. The method of claim 49 wherein the set of service related information is related to an event.

79. The method of claim 78 wherein the event comprises a live event.

80. The method of claim 79 wherein the live event is viewed in person by the user physically attending a location corresponding to the event.

81. The method of claim 80 wherein information related to the live event is received from a physical location corresponding to the live event.

82. The method of claim 49 wherein the set of service related information is related to multiple wagering options for multiple athletic contests.

83. The method of claim 49 wherein the set of service related information includes fixed odds proposition-based wagering options.

84. The method of claim 49 wherein the set of service related information is related to a real time sports prediction service which offers fixed odds propositions related to a selected event.

85. The method of claim 49 wherein the set of service related information is related to a fixed odds, proposition based, wagering service.

86. The method of claim 49 wherein the user enters credit card information to be eligible to utilize the service.

87. The method of claim 49 further comprising identifying a user status including verifying the existence of a valid account with a service.

88. The method of claim 49 wherein the service comprises a location-based service.

89. The method of claim 49 wherein the service involves a monetary award.

90. The method of claim 49 wherein the service requires a payment to utilize.

91. The method of claim 49 wherein the application enables continual receipt and updating of service related information based on the location information.

92. The method of claim 49 wherein the geographic location is determined to an accuracy of less than 10 feet.

93. The method of claim 49 wherein the service related information comprises one or more links to one or more websites.

94. The method of claim 49 wherein the service related information provides an educational experience.

95. The method of claim 49 wherein the service related information is related to a conveyance related service.

96. A method comprising:

loading a set of service related information related to a location of the mobile Internet-connected computing device to an activity client, wherein the location determines the set of service related information to be loaded;

selecting an option from the activity client to utilize by a user;

downloading a set of service-specific information related to a service from a server to the mobile Internet-connected computing device including;

receiving a list of assets from the server;

comparing the list of assets with a first set of assets on the mobile Internet-connected computing device;

receiving only a second set of assets within the list of assets that are not already resident on the mobile Internet-connected computing device, wherein the second set of assets are grouped into a set of necessary assets and a set of preferred assets; and

executing an interactive application corresponding to the service within the activity client on the mobile Internet-connected computing device.

97. The method of claim 96 wherein the first set of assets includes images, graphics, sounds, script information, Internet content, data or real-time data.

98. The method of claim 96 wherein the application is synchronized with television programming or Internet-delivered programming.

99. The method of claim 96 wherein the set of service related information is related to a person.

100. The method of claim 96 wherein the set of service related information is related to an event.

101. The method of claim 100 wherein the event comprises a live event.

102. The method of claim 101 wherein the live event is viewed in person by the user physically attending a location corresponding to the event.

103. The method of claim 102 wherein information related to the live event is received from a physical location corresponding to the live event.

104. The method of claim 96 wherein the set of service related information is related to multiple wagering options for multiple athletic contests.

105. The method of claim 96 wherein the set of service related information includes fixed odds proposition-based wagering options.

106. The method of claim 96 wherein the set of service related information is related to a real time sports prediction service which offers fixed odds propositions related to a selected event.

107. The method of claim 96 wherein the set of service related information is related to a fixed odds, proposition based, wagering service.

108. The method of claim 96 wherein the user enters credit card information to be eligible to utilize the service.

109. The method of claim 96 further comprising identifying a user status including verifying the existence of a valid account with a service.

110. The method of claim 96 wherein the service comprises a location-based service.

111. The method of claim 96 wherein the service involves a monetary award.

112. The method of claim 96 wherein the service requires a payment to utilize.

113. The method of claim 96 wherein the application enables continual receipt and updating of service related information based on the location information.

114. The method of claim 96 wherein the geographic location is determined to an accuracy of less than 10 feet.

115. The method of claim 96 wherein the service related information comprises one or more links to one or more websites.

116. The method of claim 96 wherein the service related information provides an educational experience.

117. The method of claim 96 wherein the service related information is related to a conveyance related service.

118. A method implemented on a server device comprising:

sending a set of service related information related to a location of the mobile Internet-connected computing device to an activity client, wherein the location determines the set of service related information to be loaded;

receiving a selection of a service from the activity client to be utilized by a user;

sending a set of service-specific information related to the service to the mobile Internet-connected computing device including;

sending a list of assets to the mobile Internet-connected computing device;

comparing the list of assets with a first set of assets;

sending only a second set of assets within the list of assets that are not already resident on the mobile Internet-connected computing device, wherein the second set of assets are grouped into a set of necessary assets and a set of preferred assets; and

executing an application related to the service within the activity client on the mobile Internet-connected computing device.

119. The method of claim 118 wherein the first set of assets includes images, graphics, sounds, script information, Internet content, data or real-time data.

120. The method of claim 118 wherein the list of available events comprises a display showing time remaining until start of the available events.

121. The method of claim 118 wherein the user is only eligible to utilize the service if the user'"'"'s location and age meet predetermined criteria.

122. The method of claim 118 wherein the application is synchronized with television programming or Internet-delivered programming.

123. The method of claim 118 wherein the set of service related information is related to a person.

124. The method of claim 118 wherein the set of service related information is related to an event.

125. The method of claim 124 wherein the event comprises a live event.

126. The method of claim 125 wherein the live event is viewed in person by the user physically attending a location corresponding to the event.

127. The method of claim 126 wherein information related to the live event is received from a physical location corresponding to the live event.

128. The method of claim 118 wherein the set of service related information is related to multiple wagering options for multiple athletic contests.

129. The method of claim 118 wherein the set of service related information includes fixed odds proposition-based wagering options.

130. The method of claim 118 wherein the set of service related information is related to a real time sports prediction service which offers fixed odds propositions related to a selected event.

131. The method of claim 118 wherein the set of service related information is related to a fixed odds, proposition based, wagering service.

132. The method of claim 118 wherein the user enters credit card information to be eligible to utilize the service.

133. The method of claim 118 further comprising identifying a user status including verifying the existence of a valid account with a service.

134. The method of claim 118 wherein the service comprises a location-based service.

135. The method of claim 118 wherein the service involves a monetary award.

136. The method of claim 118 wherein the service requires a payment to utilize.

137. The method of claim 118 wherein the application enables continual receipt and updating of service related information based on the location information.

138. The method of claim 118 wherein the geographic location is determined to an accuracy of less than 10 feet.

139. The method of claim 118 wherein the service related information comprises one or more links to one or more websites.

140. The method of claim 118 wherein the service related information provides an educational experience.

141. The method of claim 118 wherein the service related information is related to a conveyance related service.