IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,572,872
Granted Patent B2
US 10,572,872 · App. 15/861,948 · Granted Feb 25, 2020

Decentralized competitive arbitration using digital ledgering

Inventors: Zachary Robert Coburn (Chicago, IL); Chuhao Zhou (Everett, MA)
Assignee: FirstBlood Technologies, Inc.
G06Q20/389A63F13/75A63F13/79A63F13/792G06Q20/42A63F13/816A63F13/828A63F13/86
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,572,872
App. No.
15/861,948
Granted
Feb 25, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed techniques enable arbitration of electronic competitions using digital ledgering. A digital competition arbitration platform is based on secure, trusted digital ledgering techniques. Users who seek to compete in digital games and eSports subscribe to the arbitration platform. A competition between users employs a digital contract. The contract is executed using a digital ledger token. The outcome of the competition between players is verified based on input from both the competitors and randomly selected witnesses. When a dispute occurs between the players, a juror pool reviews evidence and witness results. Payouts are made based on the digital contract and the adjudged competition result. Compensation is provided to jurors and witnesses.

Claims (40)

1. A computer-implemented method for competitive arbitration comprising:

subscribing, using a first computing device, a first user group and a second user group to a digital competition arbitration platform that oversees a digital competition;

executing, using a second computing device, a digital contract using a digital ledger token between the first user group and the second user group, wherein the digital contract pertains to a result from the digital competition;

receiving a result of the digital competition between the first user group and the second user group, wherein the result is received by a third user group; and

validating, using a third computing device, the result of the digital competition by collecting input from the first user group, the second user group, and the third user group.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the third user group comprises one or more witness users.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the third user group verifies the result from the digital competition.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the one or more witness users perform a witness operation through an automated evaluation application.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising arbitrating a dispute between the first user group and the second user group over the result from the digital competition using a fourth user group that votes on the result from the digital competition.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the fourth user group comprises a jury pool.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the fourth user group is compensated for the arbitrating.

8. The method of claim 7 determining a first subset of the fourth user group that voted in a majority as part of the arbitrating.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first subset is compensated for the arbitrating.

10. The method of claim 8 determining a second subset of the fourth user group that voted in a minority as part of the arbitrating.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the second subset is compensated negatively.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital competition is on a separate digital platform from the digital competition arbitration platform.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital contract comprises a smart contract.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the smart contract comprises a wager.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the second computing device is an arbitration server.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the arbitration server handles matchmaking between the first user group and the second user group.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the first user group and the second user group are part of a multiplicity of user groups involved in the digital competition.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the multiplicity of user groups compete in a round-robin type competition.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the multiplicity of user groups are matched by the arbitration server.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital ledger token comprises a cryptocurrency.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital ledger token comprises blockchain technology.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital contract is maintained using blockchain technology.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein data associated with the digital contract is maintained using blockchain technology.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital competition arbitration platform is decentralized.

25. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium for competitive arbitration, the computer program product comprising code which causes one or more processors to perform operations of:

subscribing a first user group and a second user group to a digital competition arbitration platform that oversees a digital competition;

executing a digital contract using a digital ledger token between the first user group and the second user group wherein the digital contract pertains to a result from the digital competition;

receiving a result of the digital competition between the first user group and the second user group, wherein the result is received by a third user group; and

validating the result of the digital competition by collecting input from the first user group, the second user group, and the third user group.

26. A computer system for competitive arbitration comprising:

a memory which stores instructions;

one or more processors attached to the memory wherein the one or more processors, when executing the instructions which are stored, are configured to:

subscribe a first user group and a second user group to a digital competition arbitration platform that oversees a digital competition;

execute a digital contract using a digital ledger token between the first user group and the second user group wherein the digital contract pertains to a result from the digital competition;

receive a result of the digital competition between the first user group and the second user group, wherein the result is received by a third user group; and

validate the result of the digital competition by collecting input from the first user group, the second user group, and the third user group.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2018
From: COBURN, ZACHARY ROBERT; ZHOU, CHUHAO; TEMKIN, DANIEL
To: FIRSTBLOOD TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 044974/0940 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62443086 · Jan 6, 2017
Related Publication 20180197172A1 · Jul 12, 2018
Cited By (2)
US 12,339,960 US 12,536,028