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

• US 8,717,701 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2012
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• 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:
  US13/403,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20120157178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 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 differences in a game of skill or chance comprising:

a. determining an amount of delay for each participant of the game of skill or chance;

b. substantially equalizing receipt of game-related data for each participant through adjustment of the amount of delay; and

c. synchronizing a telecast with the game of skill or chance presented on a second screen coupled to a cellular network or Internet.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising determining how each participant receives a television signal.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein how each participant receives a television signal is selected from the group consisting of an over the air broadcast, a cable system and a satellite system.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the participants are grouped based on how the participants receive a television signal.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising determining if there is additional processing of a television signal in a reception location.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the additional processing occurs within a participant'"'"'s location selected from the group consisting of a public place, a home, an office and a bar.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein determining the amount of delay comprises one or more of:

a. requiring the participants to answer questions related to their television system service;

b. requiring the participants to mark on a game playing client device a precise time that a predetermined audio or visual event is viewed on a television program;

c. utilizing a GPS function in a cellular phone to determine a physical location of each of the participants;

d. utilizing an employee of a game producer to determine the amount of delay;

e. inserting an artifact in the telecast in which the participants respond to; and

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

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein input from a client device linked to a broadcast server is utilized to achieve synchronization with the television program.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein equalizing the participants comprises at least one of 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 participants at the same time where client software delays presentation of game data based on a precise time of reception of the telecast by the group.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the telecast comprises commercials.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein questions to be displayed at precise times before, during and after the commercials sent to a mobile device in synchronization with the telecast.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein an incentive is awarded for answering the questions on the mobile device in precise synchronization with the telecast of the commercials.

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

18. The method of claim 1 wherein a synchronization point is a visible or audible event located within the telecast.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein a synchronization point for a live telecast is contained in audio or video within the telecast.

20. 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.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein information is embedded in the telecast and tracked online in real-time.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a start time of the telecast includes using a recognizable signal recognizable by a mobile device.

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

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the game of skill or chance comprises pre-produced data files.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the pre-produced data files comprise real-time entertainment.

26. The method of claim 24 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 telecast.

27. The method of claim 24 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 telecast.

28. The method of claim 27 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 telecast.

29. The method of claim 27 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 telecast.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein synchronizing comprises:

a. determining an amount of delay to precisely synchronize between the game of skill or chance stored on a mobile device and the receipt of the program presented on a television; and

b. substantially equalizing presentation of the game of skill or chance with programming or a commercial contained in a telecast through adjustment for the amount of delay of the telecast.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein substantially equalizing includes equalizing receipt of lock out events relative to a televised event triggering a lock out.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein synchronizing comprises substantially equalizing a participant delay to ensure the participants each receive the game of skill or chance at substantially the same time.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein synchronizing comprises determining a participant latency based on specific participant latencies and synchronizing the game of skill or chance for each of the participants.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein synchronizing comprises utilizing an audio or video recognition system on a client with online access to the telecast'"'"'s game control server.

35. The method of claim 30 wherein synchronizing comprises using added audio or video events in the telecast as synchronization points.

36. The method of claim 30 wherein a plurality of synchronization points within audio or video are used by software on a client in connection with a server to continuously monitor the telecast to ensure the game of skill or chance played on the client is precisely synchronized with the telecast.

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

38. The method of claim 1 wherein the telecast is a live telecast.

39. The method of claim 1 wherein the game of skill or chance ends when the telecast ends.

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

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

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

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

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

45. The method of claim 7 further comprising establishing the delay by comparing audio or video samples derived from the cellular phone linked to a game server by comparing samples to archived audio or video files of the program being broadcast.

46. The method of claim 7 wherein an archive of a live telecast is generated contemporaneously with broadcast of the live telecast.

47. The method of claim 1 wherein an archive of a live telecast is generated contemporaneously with broadcast of the live telecast.

48. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjustment of the amount of delay results in synchronization of receipt of a television signal of the telecast and presentation of game-related data on a mobile device.

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

50. The method of claim 9 wherein the participants comprise ad hoc or preexisting groups of friends competing in a separate competition in disparate physical locations.

51. The method of claim 1 wherein the synchronization points are the audio or video data for the telecast residing on a server online with a mobile device.

52. The method of claim 30 wherein the participants constitute ad hoc or existing groups of geographically dispersed friends participating in a separate game of chance or skill.

53. The method of claim 44 wherein the participants are ad hoc or previously organized groups of friends competing against each other in a separate contest.

54. The method of claim 1 wherein equalizing the participants comprises time stamping the amount of delay on game-related data.

55. The method of claim 1 further comprising establishing the amount of delay through an automated system which samples an audio or video track of a satellite, cable or over the air broadcast television signal, linked to a game server, to provide information related to a precise arrival of an underlying television picture.

56. The method of claim 1 wherein the telecast comprises a recorded telecast.

57. The method of claim 1 wherein the telecast is stored on a digital video recorder.

58. The method of claim 1 wherein further comprising determining if there is additional processing of the telecast increasing a total length of the delay.

59. The method of claim 1 wherein the delay includes a digital video recorder delay wherein the telecast is recorded on the digital video recorder.

60. The method of claim 1 wherein each participant is an individual.

61. The method of claim 1 wherein each participant participates separately.

62. The method of claim 1 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 telecast.

10. A method of preventing a first set of participants at a live event from having an advantage over a second set of participants watching the live event on television comprising:

a. determining a cellular site that serves a set of cellular phones at a venue site;

b. determining the set of cellular phones that are utilizing the cellular site of the venue site;

c. determining a subset of cellular phones within the set of cellular phones that are located within the venue site; and

d. generating separate groups of competitions based on the subset of cellular phones within the set of cellular phones that are located within the venue site.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein a first group within the separate groups of competitions includes only the first set of participants and a second group within the separate groups of competitions includes only the second set of participants.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein an application on a server determines the cellular site, the set of cellular phones utilizing the cellular site and the subset of cellular phones located within the venue site.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein an application on each cellular phone within the subset of cellular phones determines if the cellular phone is located within the venue site.

63. A method of equalizing effects of latency differences in a game of skill or chance based on a television program, comprising:

a. determining an amount of delay in signal reception for each participant of the game of skill or chance;

b. substantially equalizing the participants through adjustment of the amount of delay to synchronize receipt of a television signal of a telecast and cellular or Internet data; and

c. synchronizing the telecast with the game of skill or chance presented on a second screen coupled to a cellular network or Internet, wherein a plurality of synchronization points within audio or video are used by software on a client to continuously monitor the telecast to ensure the game of skill or chance is precisely synchronized with the telecast.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein determining the amount of delay comprises one or more of:

a. utilizing GPS functions in a cellular phone to determine a physical location of each of the participants;

b. inserting an artifact in the telecast in which the participants respond to; and

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

65. The method of claim 63 wherein equalizing the participants incorporates at least one of:

a. time stamping the amount of delay on a game lock out signal;

b. imposing the amount of delay on an entire game data stream; and

c. sending game control data to the participants at the same time where client software delays presentation of game data based on a precise time of reception of the telecast by the group.

66. The method of claim 63 wherein existing events in the telecast are used as synchronization points as start points for previously downloaded data files.

67. The method of claim 63 wherein a synchronization point is in the audio or video within the telecast.

68. The method of claim 63 wherein inserted audio or video is used to continuously check to ensure pre-produced data files are synchronized with the telecast.

69. The method of claim 63 wherein an earliest receipt of a lockout signal by the participants is utilized for equalizing the participants receiving the telecast later.

70. The method of claim 63 wherein equalizing the participants comprises time stamping the amount of delay on game-related data.

71. The method of claim 63 further comprising establishing the amount of delay through an automated system which samples an audio or video track of a satellite, cable or over the air broadcast television signal, linked to a game server, to provide information related to a precise arrival of an underlying television picture.

72. The method of claim 63 wherein the telecast comprises a recorded telecast.

73. The method of claim 63 wherein the telecast is stored on a digital video recorder.

74. The method of claim 63 wherein further comprising determining if there is additional processing of the telecast increasing a total length of the delay.

75. The method of claim 63 wherein the delay includes a digital video recorder delay wherein the telecast is recorded on the digital video recorder.

76. The method of claim 63 wherein each participant is an individual.

77. The method of claim 63 wherein each participant participates separately.

78. The method of claim 63 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 telecast.

79. A method of equalizing effects of latency differences in a game of skill or chance comprising:

a. determining an amount of delay for each participant of the game of skill or chance;

b. substantially equalizing receipt of game-related data for each participant through adjustment of the amount of delay; and

c. synchronizing a telecast with the game of skill or chance presented on a screen coupled to a cellular network or Internet.

80. The method of claim 79 wherein the screen comprises a television screen.

81. A method of equalizing effects of latency differences in a game of skill or chance displayed on a television comprising:

a. determining an amount of delay for each participant of the game of skill or chance;

b. substantially equalizing receipt of game-related data for each participant through adjustment of the amount of delay; and

c. synchronizing a telecast with the game of skill or chance presented on a television screen coupled to a cellular network or Internet.

82. A method of equalizing effects of latency differences in a game of skill or chance comprising:

a. determining an amount of delay for each participant of the game of skill or chance;

b. substantially equalizing receipt of game-related data for each participant through adjustment of the amount of delay;

c. synchronizing a telecast displayed on a first screen with the game of skill or chance presented on the first screen coupled to a cellular network or Internet; and

d. transferring the telecast and/or the game of skill to a second screen.

83. The method of claim 82 wherein the first screen comprises a television screen and the second screen comprises a mobile device screen.

84. The method of claim 82 wherein electronics receiving and displaying the telecast on the first screen provide control information to the second screen.

85. A method of equalizing effects of latency differences in a game of skill or chance displayed on a television comprising:

a. determining an amount of delay for each participant of the game of skill or chance;

b. grouping participants into a set of cohorts receiving a broadcast based on the amount of delay;

c. substantially equalizing receipt of game-related data for each participant through adjustment of the amount of delay; and

d. synchronizing a telecast with the game of skill or chance presented on a television screen coupled to a cellular network or Internet.

86. The method of claim 85 wherein determining the amount of delay is by a server.

87. A method of equalizing effects of latency differences in a game of skill or chance comprising:

a. determining an amount of delay for each participant of the game of skill or chance;

b. grouping participants into a set of cohorts receiving a broadcast based on the amount of delay;

c. substantially equalizing receipt of game-related data for each participant through adjustment of the amount of delay;

d. synchronizing a telecast displayed on a first screen with the game of skill or chance presented on the first screen coupled to a cellular network or Internet; and

e. transferring the telecast and/or the game of skill to a second screen.

88. The method of claim 87 wherein the first screen comprises a television screen and the second screen comprises a mobile device screen.

89. The method of claim 87 wherein electronics receiving and displaying the telecast on the first screen provide control information to the second screen.

90. The method of claim 87 wherein determining the amount of delay is by a server.