IP Library Granted Patent US 12,208,321
Granted Patent B2
US 12,208,321 · App. 18/752,579 · Granted Jan 28, 2025

Method of and system for conducting multiple contests of skill with a single performance

Inventor: David B. Lockton (Redwood City, CA)
Assignee: Winview IP Holdings, LLC
A63B71/06A63F13/31A63F13/35A63F13/795A63F13/80G07F17/32G07F17/3227G07F17/3241G07F17/3255G07F17/3276G07F17/3288G07F17/3293G07F17/3295
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,208,321
App. No.
18/752,579
Granted
Jan 28, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and system for conducting multiple competitions of skill for a single performance are described herein. User generated competition groups and system generated competition groups allow users to participate in multiple competitions at once based on answering the same questions or making the same selections related to a single event. The users are informed of each competition either via email, text message or when logging into the network via a website. The users select which competitions groups to join. After joining the desired groups, users then make their selections related to the event which are transmitted to the network where results are tabulated and transmitted back to the users. The results are separated based on each competition group, so that users can continually know where they stand in each separate competition. With multiple competition groups, users are able to have varying success from the same performance in multiple competitions.

Claims (44)

1. A method of participating in a contest of skill or chance or other entertainment corresponding to one or more events, programmed in a memory of a server, comprising:

a. determining a physical location of a plurality of users each playing on a user device, and eligibility of the users to participate in the contest based on the physical location of the users;

b. receiving, with the server, one or more event selections by each of the plurality of users transmitted from the user devices, related to the one or more events and entered prior to the beginning of a first event of the one or more events, wherein the one or more event selections enable the plurality of users to simultaneously participate in one or more separate contests;

c. triggering a lockout signal preventing further additional user input;

d. storing results and standings based on the event selections, wherein the standings are based on the results and the user standings are grouped based on experience and skill level; and

e. presenting the standings and results related to the event selections.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lockout occurs immediately before users participating in the contest are able to see relevant live game action unfold.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more events include different types of competitions selected from single event, single day competitions, multiple day competitions and season long competitions.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of users pay cash entry fees to participate in the contest.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more events are selected from the group consisting of a televised event, a scheduled competition, a scheduled series of competitions, a sporting event, an event based on a video game, computer game or electronic game, an entertainment show, a game show, a reality show, a news show and a commercial contained in a broadcast.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the event selections comprise two or more binary selections predicting a participant's performance in one of the one or more events in a statistical category.

7. A server device for conducting a contest of skill or chance or other entertainment corresponding to one or more events comprising:

a. a memory configured for;

i. determining a physical location of a plurality of users each playing on a user device, and eligibility of the users to participate in the contest based on the physical location of the users;

ii. receiving, with the server, one or more event selections by each of the plurality of users transmitted from the user devices, related to the one or more events and entered prior to the beginning of a first event of the one or more events, wherein the one or more event selections enable the plurality of users to simultaneously participate in one or more separate contests;

iii. triggering a lockout signal preventing further additional user input;

b. a processor configured for processing the contest corresponding to the one or more events, wherein processing the contest is based on the event selections, wherein the standings are based on the results and the user standings are grouped based on experience and skill level, wherein the server device presents the standings and results related to the event selections.

8. The server device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the lockout occurs immediately before users participating in the contest are able to see relevant live game action unfold.

9. The server device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the one or more events include different types of competitions selected from single event, single day competitions, multiple day competitions and season long competitions.

10. The server device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the plurality of users pay cash entry fees to participate in the contest.

11. The server device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the one or more events are selected from the group consisting of a televised event, a scheduled competition, a scheduled series of competitions, a sporting event, an event based on a video game, computer game or electronic game, an entertainment show, a game show, a reality show, a news show and a commercial contained in a broadcast.

12. The server device as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a database stored on the server device for managing the selections, the results, the standings and the multiple contests of skill or chance or other entertainment.

13. The server device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the event selections comprise two or more binary selections predicting a participant's performance in one of the one or more events in a statistical category.

14. A device for participating in a contest of skill or chance or other entertainment corresponding to one or more events, the device comprising:

a. a communications module for coupling to a server;

b. an application for utilizing the communications module for coupling to a server to communicate with the server, wherein the application enables an individual user to compete in the contest, wherein the application is configured for:

i. determining a physical location of a user and eligibility of the user to participate in the contest based on the physical location of the user;

ii. receiving one or more event selections by the user related to the one or more events prior to the beginning of the first one of the one or more events, wherein the one or more event selections enable the user to simultaneously participate in one or more separate contests;

iii. triggering a lockout signal prevent further additional user input; and

iv. receiving results and standings from the server based on the event selections, wherein the standings are based on the results and the user standings are grouped based on experience and skill level.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the lockout occurs immediately before users participating in the contest are able to see relevant live game action unfold.

16. The device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the one or more events include different types of competitions selected from single event, single day competitions, multiple day competitions and season long competitions.

17. The device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the plurality of users pay cash entry fees to participate in the contest.

18. The device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the one or more events are selected from the group consisting of a televised event, a scheduled competition, a scheduled series of competitions, a sporting event, an event based on a video game, computer game or electronic game, an entertainment show, a game show, a reality show, a news show and a commercial contained in a broadcast.

19. The device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the event selections comprise two or more binary selections predicting a participant's performance in one of the one or more events in a statistical category.

20. A server device for conducting a contest of skill or chance or other entertainment comprising a plurality of competitors corresponding to a plurality of events comprising:

a. a memory configured for;

i. determining a physical location of a user and playing on a user device, and eligibility of the users to participate in the contest based on the physical location of the user;

ii. receiving, with the server, a plurality of event selections by the user related to the plurality of events entered prior to the beginning of a first event of the plurality of events enabling the user to simultaneously compete in one or more competitions;

iii. triggering a lockout signal preventing further additional user input; and storing results and standings based on the event selections, wherein the standings are based on the results; and

b. a processor configured for processing the contest corresponding to the plurality of events, wherein processing the contest is based on the event selections for the user which enables the user to participate in the contest, wherein the server device presents the standings and results related to the event selections.

21. The server device as claimed in claim 20 wherein the plurality of events comprise live events.

22. The server device as claimed in claim 20 wherein the plurality of events comprise multiple events over a period of time of a same sport.

23. The server device as claimed in claim 20 wherein the lockout signal occurs immediately before competitors in the contest are able to see or hear relevant live action unfold in the plurality of events.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2024
From: LOCKTON, DAVID B.
To: WINVIEW, INC.
Reel/Frame 067819/0704 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2024
From: WINVIEW, INC.
To: WINVIEW IP HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 067819/0723 →
Continuity (11)
Continuation 17750050 · May 20, 2022
Continuation 17024330 · Sep 17, 2020
Continuation 16221307 · Dec 14, 2018
Continuation 15485145 · Apr 11, 2017
Continuation 14927227 · Oct 29, 2015
Continuation 14706802 · May 7, 2015
Continuation 13246464 · Sep 27, 2011
Continuation In Part 13215052 · Aug 22, 2011
Continuation 11652240 · Jan 10, 2007
Provisional Application 60757960 · Jan 10, 2006
Related Publication 20240342576A1 · Oct 17, 2024
References Cited (4)
US 10933319B2 · Lockton · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11358064B2 · Lockton · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 11551529B2 · Lockton · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20110223981A1 · Feeney · 2011 [cited by examiner]