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

• US 10,744,414 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2019
• Issued: 08/18/2020
• 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:
  US16/426,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20190344182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 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, programmed in a memory of a device, of participating in multiple contests each comprising a plurality of competitors and corresponding to one or more events, the method comprising:

a. receiving information related to the one or more events on the memory of the device, wherein at least some of the information is based on a current geographic location of a user;

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; and

c. receiving one or more event selections by users related to the one or more events, wherein the one or more event selections enable the user to participate in a plurality of competitive groups by sending selections related to the one or more events from the memory device to a server prior to the beginning of the first one of the one or more events; and

d. receiving a lockout signal preventing further additional user input.

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

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising synchronizing the multiple contests with the one or more events.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more events are one or more live events, and 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 and in communication with the server.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more events comprise multiple events over a period of time of a same sport.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lockout signal occurs immediately before competitors in the contests are able to see or hear relevant live action unfold.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lockout signal suspends an ability to enter a prediction for a limited amount of time.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lockout signal is triggered based on a countdown time presented simultaneously to all competitors.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lockout signal prevents further additional user input when the one or more events begin.

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

a. a memory configured for;

i. providing information related to one or more events to the users, wherein at least some of the information is based on a geographic location of each user;

ii. 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 simultaneously participates in a separate competition;

iii. receiving one or more event selections by users related to the one or more events; and

iv. receiving a lockout signal preventing further additional user input; and

b. a processor configured for processing the multiple contests corresponding to the one or more events, wherein processing the multiple contests is based on the one or more event selections for a user which enables the user to participate in a plurality of competitive groups, wherein the server device presents standings and results related to the event selections, wherein the standings in each of the separate competitions are based on the results.

12. The server device as claimed in claim 11 further comprising synchronizing the multiple contests with the one or more events.

13. The server device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the one or more events are one or more live events, and 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.

14. The server device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the one or more events comprise multiple events over a period of time of a same sport.

15. The server device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the lockout signal occurs immediately before competitors in the contests are able to see or hear relevant live action unfold.

16. The server device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the lockout signal prevents further additional user input when the one or more events begin.

17. A device for participating in multiple contests each comprising a plurality of competitors and corresponding to one or more 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 events, wherein the application is configured for;

i. receiving information related to the one or more events, wherein at least some of the information is based on a geographic location of the device;

ii. 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;

iii. receiving one or more event selections by users related to the one or more events; and

iv. receiving a lockout signal preventing further additional user input.

18. The device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the application utilizes the communications module for coupling to the server to send selections to and receive standings from the server.

19. The device as claimed in claim 17 further comprising synchronizing the multiple contests of skill with the one or more events.

20. The device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the one or more events are one or more live events, and 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.

21. The device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the one or more events comprise multiple events over a period of time of a same sport.

22. A device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the lockout signal occurs immediately before competitors in the contests are able to see or hear relevant live action unfold.

23. The device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the lockout signal prevents further additional user input when the one or more events begin.