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

• US 9,067,143 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2013
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• 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:
  US14/044,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20140031134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 463 5- 9, 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 of simultaneously participating in multiple contests each comprising a plurality of competitors and corresponding to one or more events comprising:

a. receiving a list of competitive groups to join on a memory device;

b. receiving user input including a group selection of a plurality of competitive groups to join, wherein each group of the plurality of competitive groups is a separate competition; and

c. receiving additional user input including a single set of events selection related to the one or more events, wherein the single set of events selection enales participating with the plurality of competitive groups by sending selections related to the one or more events from the memory device to a server.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more events are selected from the group consisting of a television-based sporting event, an entertainment show and a game show.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more events comprises classic card, dice, trivia and word games played simultaneously.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein receiving the standings on the device occurs during participating with the plurality of competitive groups.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising receiving standings, wherein the standings are separated based on the plurality of competitive groups.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising receiving standings, wherein the standings are received periodically and represent relative performance in the separate competitive groups.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the competitive groups are selected from the group consisting of service provider generated competitive groups and user generated competitive groups.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the service provider generated competitive groups are based on general playing characteristics.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the list of competitive groups to join is received on the device selected from the group consisting of a cellular device, a laptop computer, a personal computer and a PDA.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the competitive groups are maintained in a database.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the results include a handicap.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the contests is a contest of skill.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the contests is a contest of chance.

14. A network of devices for conducting multiple contests of skill or chance each comprising a plurality of competitors and corresponding to a single event comprising:

a. a plurality of devices;

each configured for receiving user input including a group section of a plurality or competitive groups to join, wherein each group of the plurality of competitive groups is a separated competition, and receiving additional user input including a single set of event selection related to the single events; and

b. a server within a network, wherein the server and the plurality of devices communicate to conduct the multiple contests of skill or chance corresponding to the single event, further wherein participating in the multiple contests of skill or chance is based on a single performance which is applied to each of the multiple contests of skill or chance simultaneously.

15. The network of devices as claimed in claim 14 wherein the plurality of devices are selected from the group consisting of cellular devices, laptop computers, personal computers and PDAs.

16. A server device for conducting multiple contests of skill or chance each comprising a plurality of competitors and corresponding to one or more events comprising:

a. a storage mechanism; and

b. an application for interacting with the storage mechanism and a communicating device to generate and store competitive groups which are used to compete in the multiple contests of skill or chance, wherein an individual user joins a plurality of competitive groups for a single event and a single set of input by the individual user is used to determine results of the plurality of competitive groups, wherein the application is configured for receiving user input including a group selection of the plurality of competitive groups to join, wherein each group of the plurality of competitive group is a separate competition; and

receiving additional user input including the single set of input related to the one or more events.

17. The server device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the storage mechanism is a database.

18. The server device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the communicating device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular device, a laptop computer, a personal computer and a PDA.

19. The server device as claimed in claim 16 wherein interacting with the storage mechanism and the communicating device further includes receiving selections and transmitting standings.

20. A device for participating in multiple contests of skill or chance each comprising a plurality of competitors and corresponding to one or more events 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 of skill or chance, wherein the application enables an individual user to join a plurality of competitive groups for a single event, wherein the application is configured for receiving user input including a group selection of the plurality of competitive group to join, wherein each group of the plurality of competitive groups is separate competition; and

receiving additional user input including a single set of event selection related to the single event.

21. The device as claimed in claim 20 wherein the application utilizes the communications module for coupling to the server to send selections to and receive standings from the server.

22. A device for participating in multiple simultaneous contests of skill or chance each comprising a plurality of competitors and corresponding to a single event comprising:

a. a storage module; and

b. an application stored within the storage module for simultaneously starting the multiple contests of skill or chance and simultaneously scoring the multiple contests of skill or chance, wherein the application enables an individual user to join a plurality of competitive groups based on a single event, wherein the application is configured for receiving user input including a group selection of the plurality of competitive for receiving user input including a group selection of competitive group is a separate competition; and

receiving additional user input including a single set of event selections related to the single event.

23. The device as claimed in claim 22 wherein the application is downloaded from a server.