Granted Patent B1

US 8,540,574 · App. 09/580,582 · Granted Sep 24, 2013

Abstract

Claims (46)

1. A method for providing targeted content to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

providing content to the user across a wireless connection, wherein the content includes:

an interactive betting service; and

a news service operating in conjunction with the betting service;

monitoring the user's navigation through the content provided to determine content targeted by the user;

identifying at least one keyword associated with the content targeted by the user;

searching a database associated with the content for information relevant to the keyword;

providing the information to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the content targeted by the user is part of the betting services.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

using the news service to monitor the user's navigation through the betting service; and

updating a scrolling news frame portion of the news service with the information.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the content targeted by the user is part of the news services.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

using the news service to monitor the user's interaction with the information; and

providing the user with detailed news information upon the user's selection of the information.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing content further includes the step of providing at least one of odds, stakes, current bets made by betters, a number of currently participating bettors, and betting windows.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the user's betting selections when related news service data is not available; and

monitoring the user's betting selections when related news service data is available.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the user's betting selection includes at least one navigation selection and one other input from the user that is tracked by the news service.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

integrating betting service data and news service data into one signal transmitted over the wireless connection; and

separating, at least in part, the integrated signal into the betting service data and the news service data.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the keyword is entered by the user to target the content.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the keyword is derived from the navigation selections of the user while interacting with the betting service.

12. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

wherein the memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

provide content to the user across a wireless connection, wherein the content includes:

a betting service; and

a news service operating in conjunction with the betting service;

monitor the user's navigation through the content provided to determine content targeted by the user based on the user's selection of the content;

identify at least one keyword associated with the content targeted by the user;

search a database associated with the content for information relevant to the keyword;

provide the information to the user.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

initiate transmission of betting data, as part of the betting service, in real-time from the betting service to be displayed to the user;

initiate transmission of at least one of the betting selections and other input the user makes via the betting service to the news service; and

register the betting selections into at least one of log file and a database.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein real-time betting data includes at least one of odds, stakes, current bets made by bettors, a number of currently participating bettors, and betting windows.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

integrate the betting service data and the news service data into one signal; and

separate the integrated signal into the betting service data and the news service data.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the keyword is inputted by the user.

Assignments (10)