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

• US 10,758,809 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2019
• Issued: 09/01/2020
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US16/517,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20190336842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack
• 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 server device, the method comprising:

a. providing to a user device from the server device a list of competitive participant groups to join, wherein the list of competitive participant groups to join is based on a user'"'"'s physical location;

b. receiving user input including a selection of a plurality of competitive participant groups to join, wherein the plurality of competitive participant groups corresponds to one or more events;

c. receiving additional user input including a set of event selections related to the one or more events, wherein the set of event selections comprises predictions available before the one or more events of occurrences happening during the one or more events and enables simultaneously participating with the plurality of competitive participant groups; and

d. triggering a lockout signal in the server device to prevent further additional user input.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the list of competitive participant groups to join is based on a user'"'"'s skill level.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving the user input to join an additional competitive participant group that has been generated after a user has selected the plurality of competitive participant groups to join.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing at least one competitive participant group of the list of competitive participant groups to join using a short message service message.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing real-time standings separated based on each competitive participant group.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more events are viewed in person by a person physically attending a venue corresponding to the one or more events, and the lockout is triggered by the person physically attending the venue.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the lockout signal occurs immediately before participants are able to see or hear relevant live action unfold.

8. The method of claim 1 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.

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

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of event selections further comprises predictions available during the one or more events of occurrences happening during the one or more events.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more events take place over one day.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more events take place over multiple days.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more events comprise a segment of an athletic contest.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the lockout signal occurs before a beginning of the segment of the athletic contest.

15. A server device comprising:

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

i. providing a list of competitive participant groups to join, wherein the list of competitive participant groups to join is based on a user'"'"'s physical location;

ii. receiving user input including a selection of a plurality of competitive participant groups to join, wherein the plurality of competitive participant groups corresponds to one or more events;

iii. receiving additional user input including a set of event selections related to the one or more events, wherein the set of event selections comprises predictions available before the one or more events of occurrences happening during the one or more events and enables simultaneously participating with the plurality of competitive participant groups;

iv. triggering a lockout signal to prevent further additional user input; and

v. providing real-time standings and results related to the set of event selections simultaneously to each of the competitive participant groups, wherein the real-time standings are based on the results; and

b. a processor for processing the application.

16. The server device of claim 15 wherein the application is further configured for receiving the user input to join an additional competitive participant group that has been generated after a user has selected the plurality of competitive participant groups to join.

17. The server device of claim 15 wherein the application is further configured for providing at least one competitive participant group of the list of competitive participant groups to join using a short message service message.

18. The server device of claim 15 wherein the one or more events are viewed in person by a person physically attending a venue corresponding to the one or more events, and the lockout is triggered by the person physically attending the venue.

19. The server device of claim 15 wherein 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.

20. The server device of claim 15 wherein the one or more events take place over one day.

21. The server device of claim 15 wherein the one or more events take place over multiple days.

22. The server device of claim 15 wherein the one or more events comprise a segment of an athletic contest.

23. The server device of claim 22 wherein the lockout signal occurs before a beginning of the segment of the athletic contest.

24. A device comprising:

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

i. receiving a list of competitive participant groups to join, wherein the list of competitive participant groups to join is based on a user'"'"'s physical location;

ii. receiving user input including a selection of a plurality of competitive participant groups to join, wherein the plurality of competitive participant groups corresponds to one or more events;

iii. receiving additional user input including a set of event selections related to the one or more events, wherein the set of event selections comprises predictions available before the one or more events of occurrences happening during the one or more events and enables simultaneously participating with the plurality of competitive participant groups;

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

v. displaying real-time standings and results related to the set of event selections simultaneously to each of the competitive participant groups, wherein the real-time standings are based on the results; and

b. a processor for processing the application.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein the application is further configured for receiving the user input to join an additional competitive participant group that has been generated after a user has selected the plurality of competitive participant groups to join.

26. The device of claim 24 wherein the application is further configured for receiving at least one competitive participant group of the list of competitive participant groups to join using a short message service message.

27. The device of claim 24 wherein the one or more events are viewed in person by a person physically attending a venue corresponding to the one or more events, and the lockout is triggered by the person physically attending the venue.

28. The device of claim 24 wherein the one or more events take place over one day.

29. The device of claim 24 wherein the one or more events take place over multiple days.

30. The device of claim 24 wherein the one or more events comprise a segment of an athletic contest.

31. The device of claim 30 wherein the lockout signal occurs before a beginning of the segment of the athletic contest.