System and method for relaying race information
View Patent ↗A system and method for relaying race information related to a plurality of races, such as horse or greyhound races, typically held at racetracks. The system includes a computer system that receives and stores current race information from the plurality of races. The system also includes a remote device coupled to the computer system. A user operating the remote device can view race information and place wagers on the races. The method begins by the computer system sending initial race information to the remote device. As current race information is received from the racetracks, the computer system compares current race information with the initial race information sent to the remote device. The computer system then sends updated race information to the remote device. This updated race information includes only race information that has changed since the initial race information was sent from the computer system to the remote device.
1. A system for relaying race information related to a plurality of races, each race including a plurality of entrants, located on a racetrack, and employing at least one totalisator for tracking race information, comprising:
a computer system in communication with the at least one totalisator for receiving and storing current race information received from the at least one totalisator, wherein the race information includes current odds of winning associated with each entrant; and,
a remote device coupled to the computer system via a network for allowing a user to select a subset of races from the plurality of races and sending the subset of races to the computer system, the computer system for receiving the subset of races and for filtering the race information based on the subset of races and delivering the filtered race information to the remote device, the remote device for receiving filtered initial race information from the computer system and for receiving filtered updated race information, the computer system for comparing the filtered initial race information sent to the remote device with the current race information, the filtered updated race information including only race information that has changed since the filtered initial race information was sent to the remote device;
said remote device including a display for delivering the filtered race information to a user; and
said display displaying a unified user interface for simultaneously showing the filtered updated race information including the odds of winning at least two different current races located on at least two different racetracks.
2. A system, as set forth in claim 1 , the remote device for receiving further updated race information from the computer system, the computer system for comparing the updated race information with the current race information received from the at least one totalisator, the further updated race information including only race information that has changed since the updated race information was sent to the remote device.
3. A system, as set forth in claim 1 , the computer system including at least one server computer located at a central location.
4. A system, as set forth in claim 1 , the remote device being one of a computer terminal, a personal computer, a telephone, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a portable gaming device, and a personal digital assistant.
5. A system, as set forth in claim 1 , each race being run at a racetrack, the race at a respective racetrack being a next race to be run.
6. A system, as set forth in claim 1 , the remote device for allowing a user to select a plurality of racetracks from a larger set of racetracks, the plurality of races corresponding to a next race to be run at each selected racetrack.
7. A system, as set forth in claim 1 , the unified user interface for allowing a user to select a plurality of race tracks, each of the plurality of races being located at one of the plurality of racetracks.
8. A system, as set forth in claim 7 , the unified user interface including a plurality of strips, each strip corresponding to one of the plurality of racetracks and displaying the updated race information pertaining to at least one race located at the corresponding racetrack.
9. A system, as set forth in claim 1 , the computer system preparing a data package containing the updated race information at periodic intervals and transmitting the data package to the remote device.
10. A system, as set forth in claim 9 , the data package including a data message sequence which identifies the race information which has been updated.
11. A system, as set forth in claim 1 , the race information including at least first and second pieces of data, the remote device receiving updated race information pertaining to the first piece of data at a first periodic interval and receiving updated race information pertaining to the second piece of data at a second periodic interval.
12. A system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the network coupling the computer system and the remote device utilizes wireless transmission of data.
13. A system, as set forth in claim 1 , the remote device allowing a user to place a wager on at least one of the races.
14. A system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the race information further includes at least one of track conditions, changes related to the race, exotic odds information, wager pool totals, combination wager odds, will pays information, race results, and exotic results.
15. A system, as set forth in claim 1 , the remote device allowing a user to view a live video feed of a race.
16. A system, as set forth in claim 1 , the remote device allowing a user to hear a live audio feed of a race.
17. A system, as set forth in claim 1 , the unified user interface for allowing a user to select the plurality of races from a large set of races.
18. A method of relaying race information related to a plurality of races from a computer system to a remote device, the remote device coupled to the computer system via a network, and each race including a plurality of entrants, located on a racetrack, and employing at least one totalisator for tracking race information, comprising:
receiving and storing current race information on the computer system from the at least one totalisator, wherein the race information includes odds of winning associated with each entrant;
allowing a user, at the remote device, to select a subset of races from the plurality of races and sending the subset of races to the computer system;
filtering, by the computer system, the race information based on the subset of races;
receiving, at the remote device, filtered initial race information from the computer system;
comparing, at the computer system, the initial race information with the current race information and sending to the remote device filtered updated race information, the filtered updated race information including only race information that has changed since the initial race information was sent to the remote device;
delivering the filtered race information to a user via a display;
providing a unified user interface displayed on the display; and
simultaneously displaying the filtered updated race information for the plurality of races including the odds of winning at least two different races located on at least two different racetracks on the unified user interface.
19. A method, as set forth in claim 18 , further comprising comparing, at the computer system, the updated race information with the current race information and sending to the remote device further updated race information, the further updated race information including only race information that has changed since the updated race information was sent to the remote device.
20. A method, as set forth in claim 18 , wherein the computer system includes at least one server computer located at a central location.
21. A method, as set forth in claim 18 , wherein the remote device is one of a computer terminal, a personal computer, a telephone, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a portable gaming device, and a personal digital assistant.
22. A method, as set forth in claim 18 , each race being run at a racetrack, the race at a respective racetrack being a next race to be run.
23. A method, as set forth in claim 18 , further comprising allowing a user to select a plurality of racetracks from a larger set of racetracks, the plurality of races corresponding to a next race to be run at each selected racetrack.
24. A method, as set forth in claim 18 , further comprising preparing a data package, at the computer system, containing the updated race information at periodic intervals and transmitting the data package to the remote device.
25. A method, as set forth in claim 24 , the data package including a data message sequence which identifies the race information which has been updated.
26. A method, as set forth in claim 18 , the race information including at least first and second pieces of data, the remote device receiving updated race information pertaining to the first piece of data at a first periodic interval and receiving updated race information pertaining to the second piece of data at a second periodic interval.
27. A method, as set forth in claim 18 , the network coupling the computer system and the remote device and utilizing wireless transmission of data.
28. A method, as set forth in claim 18 , further comprising allowing a user to place a wager on at least one of the races.
29. A method, as set forth in claim 18 , wherein the race information further includes track conditions, changes related to the race, exotic odds information, wager pool totals, combination wager odds, will pays information, race results, and exotic results.
30. A method, as set forth in claim 18 , further comprising allowing a user to view a live video feed of a race on the remote device.
31. A method, as set forth in claim 18 , further comprising allowing a user to hear a live audio feed of a race on the remote device.
32. A method, as set forth in claim 18 , further comprising allowing a user to select the plurality of races from a large set of races.
33. A method, as set forth in claim 18 , further comprising allowing a user to select a plurality of race tracks, each of the plurality of races being located at one of the plurality of racetracks.
34. A method, as set forth in claim 33 , the unified user interface including a plurality of strips, each strip corresponding to one of the plurality of racetracks and displaying the updated race information pertaining to at least one race located at the corresponding racetrack.