Methodology for equalizing systemic latencies in television reception in connection with games of skill played in connection with live television programming

• US 8,699,168 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2012
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• 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., Lowe, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US13/681,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20130079081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 360/65, 360/51, 381/103, 370/260, 463 40- 42
• US Class Current: 360/65
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• 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 13/32 using local area network [LAN] connections
• 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 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/358 Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/24 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/27 : Server based end-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4302 : Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 : Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 : Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4508 : Management of client data or end-user data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 : for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 : Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 : involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/04 : Synchronising for television systems using pulse code modulation H04N7/56

Abstract

A method of and system for handling latency issues encountered in producing real-time entertainment such as games of skill synchronized with live or taped televised events is described herein. There are multiple situations that are dealt with regarding latencies in receiving a television signal with respect to real-time entertainment based on the unfolding games played along with the telecasts. Systemic delays, arbitrarily imposed delays of a broadcast signal and variances in the precise broadcast times of taped television programs have to be equalized so as to provide fair entertainment.

Claims

1. A method of equalizing effects of latency issues with a taped television broadcast comprising:

a. storing a set of data files on a server;

b. determining one or more start times;

c. establishing an amount of delay through an automated system linked to the server, which samples an audio or video track of a satellite, cable or over the air broadcast television signal, to provide information related to a precise arrival of an underlying television picture; and

d. transmitting the set of files from the server to a plurality of mobile devices at a transmission time corresponding to an appropriate start time for each mobile device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein an application starts using the set of files at the one or more start times.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the set of data files are game data files.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein determining the one or more start times includes at least one of:

a. utilizing an employee of a game provider to synchronize data files based on their visual observation of a telecast;

b. utilizing at least one of an audio and video recognition system with online access to the broadcast for each separate market which provides real-time tracking of the broadcast to the server;

c. inserting at least one of an audio and video event in the television broadcast which is recognizable at a starting point;

d. designating at least one of the audio and video event in the television broadcast which is recognizable as the starting point;

e. utilizing an audio signal, inserted within the broadcast recognizable by an audio receiver of the mobile device; and

f. using a vertical blanking interval.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the taped television broadcast comprises commercials.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein questions to be displayed at precise times before, during and after the commercials sent to the mobile device in synchronization with the taped television broadcast.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein an incentive is awarded for answering the questions on the mobile device in precise synchronization with the taped television broadcast of the commercials.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein existing events in the taped television broadcast are used as synchronization points as start points for previously downloaded data files to a mobile client.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein a synchronization point is a visible or audible event located within the taped television broadcast.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein information is inserted in a Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI) or equivalent of a show and tracked online in real-time.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein information is embedded in the taped television broadcast and tracked online in real-time.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the one or more start times of the taped television broadcast includes using a recognizable signal recognizable by the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising delivering a start time of a commercial using a recognizable signal recognizable by the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein a game of skill or chance is run in conjunction with the taped television broadcast and wherein the game of skill or chance comprises pre-produced data files.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the pre-produced data files comprise real-time entertainment.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein a plurality of synchronization points are used by a client to continuously check to ensure the pre-produced data files are synchronized with the taped television broadcast.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein inserted audio or video is used to continuously check to ensure the pre-produced data files are precisely synchronized on the client with the taped television broadcast.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the inserted audio or video is used by a client to continuously check to ensure the pre-produced data files are precisely synchronized on the client with the taped television broadcast.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the inserted audio or video is used by a server to continuously check to ensure the pre-produced data files are precisely synchronized on the client with the taped television broadcast.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein an artifact is inserted into the taped television broadcast recognizable by an audio receiver in a mobile device which is utilized to start and continually keep a game of skill or chance synchronized with the taped television broadcast.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the game of skill or chance ends when the taped television broadcast ends.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein a server sends the game of skill or chance to the mobile device.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the game of skill or chance is stored in a memory of the mobile device.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the game of skill or chance is stored in random access memory of the mobile device.

25. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the game of skill or chance on the mobile device.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein an earliest receipt of a lockout signal by participants is utilized for equalizing locking out all participants receiving the taped television broadcast later.

27. The method of claim 1 further comprising establishing a delay by comparing audio or video samples derived from the mobile device linked to a game server by comparing samples to archived audio or video files of the taped television broadcast.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein adjustment of the amount of delay results in synchronization of receipt of a television signal of the taped television broadcast and presentation of game-related data on the mobile device.

29. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a shortest delay of participants and applying lockouts to the participants based on the shortest delay.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein participants comprise ad hoc or preexisting groups of friends competing in a separate competition in disparate physical locations.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein the synchronization points are the audio or video data for the taped television broadcast residing on the server online with the mobile device.

32. The method of claim 1 wherein participants constitute ad hoc or existing groups of geographically dispersed friends participating in a separate game of chance or skill.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the participants are ad hoc or previously organized groups of friends competing against each other in a separate contest.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein equalizing the participants comprises time stamping an amount of delay on game-related data.

35. The method of claim 1 wherein the taped television broadcast is stored on a digital video recorder.

36. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining if there is additional processing of the taped television broadcast increasing a total length of delay.

37. The method of claim 1 wherein a delay includes a digital video recorder delay wherein the taped television broadcast is recorded on the digital video recorder.

38. The method of claim 1 further comprising equalizing a delay wherein equalizing incorporates time stamping the amount of delay on a game lock out signal, imposing the amount of delay on an entire game data stream and sending game control data to the participant cohorts at the same time where client software delays presentation of game data based on a precise time of reception of the taped television broadcast.

39. The method of claim 1 wherein a client used in connection with viewing a time shifted telecast of a previously recorded program utilizes automatic content recognition to synchronize preproduced game data files to precisely synchronize game data files with the recorded telecast.

40. The method of claim 1 wherein a client used in connection with viewing a delayed program utilizes automatic content recognition to synchronize preproduced game data files to precisely synchronize game data files with the recorded telecast.

41. The method of claim 1 wherein determining comprises establishing an amount of delay through an automated system which samples an audio track of a satellite or over the air broadcast signal, linked to a game server, to provide information related to a precise arrival of the broadcast.

42. The method of claim 1 wherein the taped television broadcast is recorded on a digital video recorder.

43. The method of claim 1 further comprising equalizing a set of cohorts comprising time stamping an amount of delay on a game lock out signal, imposing the amount of delay on an entire game data stream and sending game control data to the participant cohorts at the same time relative to receipt of the broadcast, where client software delays presentation of game data based on a precise time of reception of the broadcast by a group.

44. The method of claim 1 wherein the taped television broadcast and the set of files are presented on a same screen.

45. The method of claim 1 wherein the taped television broadcast and the set of files are presented on different screens.

46. The method of claim 1 wherein electronics receiving and displaying the taped television broadcast on a first screen coupled to a game server via the Internet provide control information to a second screen.