IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,509,929
Granted Patent B1
US 8,509,929 · App. 10/234,345 · Granted Aug 13, 2013

Systems and methods for roster management in fantasy sports contest applications

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,509,929
App. No.
10/234,345
Granted
Aug 13, 2013
Kind
B1
Abstract

The fantasy sports contest application of the present invention alerts the user of necessary roster changes before an upcoming fantasy sports competition. The fantasy sports contest application may evaluate the user's team roster before an upcoming fantasy sports competition to ensure that all roster spots on the team roster are filled with athletes available for real-life competitions. The fantasy sports contest application may also identify roster changes and roster transactions that may be beneficial to a user's fantasy sports contest team roster. The fantasy sports contest application may recommend roster changes and roster transactions to the user by evaluating the performance of athletes using performance criteria. The performance criteria can be based on the past performance of athletes, either overall, or for certain situations. The performance criteria may be predefined by the system, user-editable, or any suitable combination thereof.

Claims (59)

1. A method for allowing a user of a fantasy sports contest application to maintain a fantasy sports team roster using a user input device in communication with processing circuitry, the method comprising:

allowing the user to enter a user input from the user input device to create a fantasy sports team roster;

automatically evaluating one or more athletes on the fantasy sports team roster based on one or more single game performance criteria and one or more long term game performance criteria using the processing circuitry, wherein the one or more long term game performance criteria are at least partially based on the one or more single game performance criteria;

automatically evaluating one or more athletes not on the fantasy sports team roster based on the one or more single game performance criteria and the one or more long term game performance criteria using the processing circuitry;

automatically displaying an alert to the user, the alert having at least one recommended change to be made to the fantasy sports team roster based on the evaluations using the processing circuitry and a plurality of selectable elements related to the at least one recommended change, wherein the alert is automatically displayed at one or more preset times before a start of a round of a fantasy sports contest, and wherein the at least one recommended change includes an exchange of at least one athlete on the fantasy sports team roster for at least one athlete not on the fantasy sports team roster;

receiving from the user using the user input device a selection of one of the plurality of selectable elements related to the at least one recommended change; and

in response to receiving the selection, making the at least one recommended change to the fantasy sports team roster using the processing circuitry.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically evaluating one or more athletes on the fantasy sports team roster using the processing circuitry comprises automatically determining that at least one spot on the fantasy sports team roster is filled with an unavailable athlete.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically recommending at least one change to be made using the processing circuitry comprises automatically determining at least one change to a starting lineup of the fantasy sports team roster.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically recommending at least one change to be made using the processing circuitry comprises automatically determining at least one roster transaction involving the fantasy sports team roster, wherein the at least one roster transaction is an exchange of at least one athlete from the fantasy sports team roster for at least one other athlete from another fantasy sports team roster.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically evaluating the performance of one or more athletes on the user's fantasy sports team roster using the processing circuitry comprises measuring the athletic performance of at least one athlete on the user's fantasy sports team roster using quantitative statistics.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving from the user a selection to have the at least one recommended change made using the processing circuitry comprises displaying a message to the user indicating the at least one recommended change.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein making the at least one recommended change using the processing circuitry comprises automatically modifying the fantasy sports team roster-to reflect the at least one recommended change.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry is implemented on one of a set-top box, a server, or a display device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the user input device comprises one of a keyboard, a mouse, or a display device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically evaluating one or more athletes not on the fantasy sports team roster using the processing circuitry further comprises evaluating one or more athletes not on any fantasy sports team in the fantasy sports contest application using the process circuitry.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving from the user using the user input device a selection to have the at least one recommended change made in the fantasy sports team roster comprises prompting the user by a display to either accept or reject the at least one recommended change, and in response to user input selecting to accept the at least one recommended change, automatically modifying the fantasy sports team roster with the at least one recommended change.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alert is an interactive alert.

13. A system for allowing a user of a fantasy sports contest application to maintain a fantasy sports team roster, the system comprising:

means for allowing the user to create a fantasy sports team roster;

means for automatically evaluating one or more athletes on the fantasy sports team roster based on one or more single game performance criteria and one or more long term game performance criteria, wherein the one or more long term game performance criteria are at least partially based on the one or more single game performance criteria;

means for automatically evaluating one or more athletes not on the fantasy sports team roster based on the one or more single game performance criteria and the one or more long term game performance criteria;

means for automatically displaying an alert to the user, the alert having at least one recommended change to be made to the fantasy sports team roster based on the evaluations and a plurality of selectable elements related to the at least one recommended change, wherein the alert is displayed at one or more preset times before a start of a round of a fantasy sports contest, and wherein the at least one recommended change includes an exchange of at least one athlete on the fantasy sports team roster for at least one athlete not on the fantasy sports team roster;

means for receiving from the user a selection of one of the plurality of selectable elements related to the at least one recommended change; and

in response to receiving the selection, means for making the at least one recommended change to the fantasy sports team roster.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the means for automatically evaluating one or more athletes on the fantasy sports team roster comprises means for automatically determining that at least one spot in the fantasy sports team roster is filled with an unavailable athlete.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the means for automatically recommending at least one change to be made comprises means for automatically determining at least one change to a starting lineup of the fantasy sports team roster.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the means for automatically evaluating the performance of one or more athletes on the user's fantasy sports team roster comprises means for measuring the athletic performance of at least one athlete on the user's fantasy sports team roster using quantitative statistics.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the means for receiving from the user a selection to have the at least one recommended change made comprises means for displaying a message to the user indicating the at least one recommended change.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the means for making the at least one recommended change comprises means for automatically modifying the fantasy sports team roster to reflect the at least one recommended change.

19. A computer readable medium encoded with machine-readable instructions, which when processed by processing circuitry, allow a user to maintain a fantasy sports team roster using a user input device in communication with the processing circuitry, the machine-readable instructions comprising:

allowing the user to create a fantasy sports team roster;

automatically evaluating one or more athletes on the fantasy sports team roster based on one or more single game performance criteria and one or more long term game performance criteria, wherein the one or more long term game performance criteria are at least partially based on the one or more single game performance criteria;

automatically evaluating one or more athletes not on the fantasy sports team roster based on the one or more single game performance criteria and the one or more long term game performance criteria;

automatically displaying an alert to the user, the alert having at least one recommended change to be made to the fantasy sports team roster based on the evaluations and a plurality of selectable elements related to the at least one recommended change, wherein the alert is displayed at one or more preset times before a start of a round of a fantasy sports contest, and wherein the at least one recommended change includes an exchange of at least one athlete on the fantasy sports team roster for at least one athlete not on the fantasy sports team roster;

receiving from the user a selection to of one of the plurality of selectable elements related the at least one recommended change; and

in response to receiving the selection, making the at least one recommended change to the fantasy sports team roster.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the machine-readable instructions for automatically evaluating one or more athletes on the fantasy sports team roster comprises machine-readable instructions for automatically determining that at least one spot in the fantasy sports team roster is filled with an unavailable athlete.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the machine-readable instructions for automatically recommending at least one change to be made comprises machine-readable instructions for automatically determining at least one change to a starting lineup of the fantasy sports team roster.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the machine-readable instructions for automatically recommending at least one change to be made comprises machine-readable instructions for automatically determining at least one roster transaction involving the fantasy sports team roster, wherein the at least one roster transaction is an exchange of at least one athlete from the fantasy sports team roster for at least one other athlete from another fantasy sports team roster.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the machine-readable instructions for automatically evaluating the performance of one or more athletes on the user's fantasy sports team roster comprises machine-readable instructions for measuring the athletic performance of at least one athlete on the user's fantasy sports team roster using quantitative statistics.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the machine-readable instructions for receiving from the user a selection to have the at least one recommended change made comprises machine-readable instructions for displaying a message to the user indicating the at least one recommended change.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the machine-readable instructions for making the at least one recommended change comprises machine-readable instructions for automatically modifying the fantasy sports team roster to reflect the at least one recommended change.

26. A system for allowing a user of a fantasy sports contest application to maintain a fantasy sports team roster, the system comprising:

a user input device;

a user output device comprising a display device; and

processing circuitry configured to:

allow the user to create a fantasy sports team roster;

automatically evaluate one or more athletes on the fantasy sports team roster based on one or more single game performance criteria and the one or more long term game performance criteria, wherein the one or more long term game performance criteria are at least partially based on the one or more single game performance criteria;

automatically evaluate one or more athletes not on the fantasy sports team roster based on the one or more single game performance criteria and the one or more long term game performance criteria;

automatically display an alert to the user, the alert having at least one recommended change to be made to the fantasy sports team roster based on the evaluations and a plurality of selectable elements related to the at least one recommended change, wherein the alert is displayed at one or more preset times before a start of a round of a fantasy sports contest, and wherein the at least one change includes an exchange of at least one athlete on the fantasy sports team roster for at least one athlete not on the fantasy sports team roster;

receive from the user a selection of one of the plurality of selectable elements related to the at least one recommended change; and

in response to receiving the selection, make the at least one recommended change to the fantasy sports team roster.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the processing circuitry configured to automatically evaluate one or more athletes on the fantasy sports team roster comprises processing circuitry configured to automatically determine that at least one spot in the fantasy sports team roster is filled with an unavailable athlete.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein the processing circuitry configured to automatically recommend at least one change to be made comprises processing circuitry configured to automatically determine at least one change to a starting lineup of the fantasy sports team roster.

29. The system of claim 26 wherein the processing circuitry configured to automatically evaluate the performance of one or more athletes on the user's fantasy sports team roster comprises processing circuitry configured to measure the athletic performance of at least one athlete on the fantasy sports team roster using quantitative statistics.

30. The system of claim 26 wherein the processing circuitry configured to receive from the user a selection to have the at least one recommended change made comprises processing circuitry configured to display a message to the user indicating the at least one recommended change.

31. The system of claim 26 wherein the processing circuitry configured to make the at least one recommended change comprises processing circuitry configured to automatically modify the fantasy sports team roster to reflect the at least one recommended change.

32. The method of claim 26 , wherein the alert is an interactive alert.

Assignments (17)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 25, 2024
From: ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: ADEIA TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 069047/0828 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053481/0790 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053458/0749 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2020
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS INC.; VEVEO, INC.; INVENSAS CORPORATION; INVENSAS BONDING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TESSERA, INC.; TESSERA ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DTS, INC.; PHORUS, INC.; IBIQUITY DIGITAL CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053468/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051110/0006 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: APTIV DIGITAL INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 051145/0090 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051143/0468 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2016
From: TV GUIDE, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 040569/0170 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2016
From: INTERACTIVE SPORTS HOLDINGS, INC.
To: TV GUIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 040226/0723 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2016
From: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
To: ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040226/0757 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC; APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 033396/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033407/0035 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2011
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC, A BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS COMPANY; ROVI CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027039/0168 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2010
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION)
To: ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC; APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ODS PROPERTIES, INC.; ROVI DATA SOLUTIONS, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS TV GUIDE DATA SOLUTIONS, INC.); ROVI GUIDES, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GEMSTAR-TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.); ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACROVISION CORPORATION); ROVI SOLUTIONS LIMITED (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACROVISION EUROPE LIMITED); ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE, INC.; TV GUIDE ONLINE, LLC; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 025222/0731 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 4, 2009
From: ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 023607/0249 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2009
From: INTERACTIVE SPORTS HOLDINGS, INC.
To: ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023379/0386 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2002
From: HUGHES, PATRICK J.; JUNKIN, WILLIAM; BARBER, DAVE
To: INTERACTIVE SPORTS HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 013267/0519 →