Synchronized gaming and programming
To encourage viewer participation, games, contests and social interactions are able to be synchronized with programming such as television shows or commercials utilizing a second screen such as a cell phone, iPad® or laptop computer. The programming is able to be television programming, Internet programming (e.g. a video displayed on a webpage or mobile device) or any other programming. The gaming is able to be any game such as a game of skill or chance, for example, played in connection with a football telecast.
1. A method programmed in a memory of a device comprising:
a. determining a first delay amount for a transmission of content for a first set of users;
b. determining a second delay amount for the transmission of the content for a second set of users;
c. calculating a delta between the first delay amount and the second delay amount; and
d. excluding the second set of users from a game of skill or chance when the delta between the first delay amount and the second delay amount is greater than a threshold.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first delay amount is a shortest delay amount, and the second delay amount is a longest delay amount.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmission of content includes at least one of television broadcast, via over the air, cable, satellite, or streaming.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the game of skill or chance is related to the content.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the game of skill or chance is synchronized with the content.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is an Internet-connected device.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the device comprises a mobile device.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the device comprises a server.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the game of skill or chance and the content are displayed on the device.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the content and the game of skill or chance are synchronized using watermarking or fingerprinting.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the first delay amount and determining the second delay amount comprise comparing times of receipt of the content at user devices.
12. The method of claim 1 further comprising substantially equalizing presentation of the game of skill or chance with the content for users with different amounts of delay.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein substantially equalizing includes equalizing receipt of lock out events relative to the content triggering a lock out.
14. A device comprising:
a. a memory for storing an application, the application configured for:
i. determining a first delay amount for a transmission of content for a first set of users;
ii. determining a second delay amount for the transmission of the content for a second set of users;
iii. calculating a delta between the first delay amount and the second delay amount; and
iv. excluding the second set of users from a game of skill or chance when the delta between the first delay amount and the second delay amount is greater than a threshold; and
b. a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured for processing the application.
15. The device of claim 14 wherein the first delay amount is a shortest delay amount, and the second delay amount is a longest delay amount.
16. The device of claim 14 wherein the transmission of content includes at least one of television broadcast, via over the air, cable, satellite, or streaming.
17. The device of claim 14 wherein the game of skill or chance is related to the content.
18. The device of claim 14 wherein the game of skill or chance is synchronized with the content.
19. The method of claim 14 wherein the device is an Internet-connected device.
20. The device of claim 14 wherein the device comprises a mobile device.
21. The device of claim 14 wherein the device comprises a server.
22. The device of claim 14 wherein the game of skill or chance and the content are displayed on the device.
23. The device of claim 14 wherein the content and the game of skill or chance are synchronized using watermarking or fingerprinting.
24. The device of claim 14 wherein determining the first delay amount and determining the second delay amount comprise comparing times of receipt of the content at user devices.
25. The device of claim 14 further comprising substantially equalizing presentation of the game of skill or chance with the content for users with different amounts of delay.
26. The device of claim 25 wherein substantially equalizing includes equalizing receipt of lock out events relative to the content triggering a lock out.
27. A server device comprising:
a. a memory for storing an application, the application configured for:
i. comparing a delay amount in transmission of content for a set of devices with a delay threshold;
ii. classifying each device from the set of devices based on the delay amount in the transmission of the content into a cohort of a plurality of cohorts;
iii. selecting the cohort of the plurality of cohorts with a largest number of devices; and
iv. excluding devices in the plurality of cohorts other than the selected cohort from a game of skill or chance; and
b. a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured for processing the application.
28. The device of claim 27 wherein the transmission of content includes at least one of television broadcast, via over the air, cable, satellite, or streaming.
29. The device of claim 27 wherein the game of skill or chance is related to the content.
30. The device of claim 27 wherein the game of skill or chance is synchronized with the content.
31. The device of claim 27 wherein the content and the game of skill or chance are synchronized using watermarking or fingerprinting.