# US 11,298,621 B2 · Method of and system for conducting multiple contests of skill with a single performance

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- Number: US 11,298,621 B2
- Document ID: US11298621B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/934,886
- Filed: 2020-07-21
- Published: 2021-01-07
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2006-01-10
- Assignees: Winview, Inc.
- Applicants: Winview, Inc.
- Inventors: David B. Lockton; Mark K. Berner; Mark J. Micheli
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298621B2

## CPC

- A63F 13/795: for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
- A63F 13/30: Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
- A63F 13/332: using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
- A63F 13/335: using Internet
- A63F 13/35: Details of game servers
- A63F 13/537: using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
- A63F 13/798: for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame
- A63F 13/816: Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
- G07F 17/3276: {wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament}
- G07F 17/3295: {Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking}
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})

## Abstract

A method of 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, the 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

### Claim 1

A method, programmed in a memory of a device, of participating in a plurality of competitive groups, each comprising a plurality of competitors and corresponding to one or more events, the method comprising:
determining, with the device, the plurality of competitive groups in which a user is eligible to compete;
receiving, at the device, one or more event selections by users 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 participate in the plurality of competitive groups, wherein user performance in the plurality of competitive groups is separately scored simultaneously; and
triggering, on the device, a lockout signal preventing further additional user input.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more events are selected from the group consisting of a live television-based event, a recorded television event, a scheduled competition, a scheduled series of competitions, a sporting event, an event based on a video game, computer game, mobile game or electronic game conducted in real time, an entertainment show, a game show, a reality show and a news show.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more events are one or more live events.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more events comprise multiple events over a period of time of a same sport.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lockout signal occurs immediately before competitors in the competitive groups are able to see or hear relevant live action unfold.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lockout signal is triggered based on a countdown time presented simultaneously to all competitors.

### Claim 7

A server device for conducting multiple contests each comprising a plurality of competitors and corresponding to one or more events, the server device comprising:
a memory configured for:
determining the multiple contests in which a user is eligible to compete;
receiving one or more event selections by users related to the one or more events; and
triggering a lockout signal preventing further additional user input; and
a processor configured for processing the multiple contests corresponding to the one or more events, wherein processing the multiple contests is based on the one or more event selections for a user which enables the user to participate in a plurality of competitive groups, wherein user performance in the plurality of competitive groups is separately scored simultaneously, wherein the server device presents standings and results related to the event selections, wherein the standings in each of the separate competitions are based on the results.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The server device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the one or more events are one or more live events.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The server device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the one or more events comprise multiple events over a period of time of a same sport.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The server device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the lockout signal occurs immediately before competitors in the contests are able to see or hear relevant live action unfold.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The server device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the lockout signal is triggered based on a countdown time presented simultaneously to all competitors.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The server device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the one or more events comprise classic games of skill including card, dice, trivia and word games played simultaneously.

### Claim 13

A device for participating in multiple contests each comprising a plurality of competitors and corresponding to one or more events, the device comprising:
a communications module for coupling to a server; and
an application for utilizing the communications module for coupling to a server to communicate with the server to determine which competitive groups a user is eligible to compete in which are used to compete in the multiple contests wherein the application enables an individual user to join a plurality of competitive groups for the one or more events, wherein the application is configured for:
receiving one or more event selections by users 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 participate in a plurality of competitive groups, wherein user performance in the plurality of competitive groups is separately scored simultaneously; and
triggering a lockout signal preventing further additional user input.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the application utilizes the communications module for coupling to the server to send selections to and receive standings from the server.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the one or more events are one or more live events.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the one or more events comprise multiple events over a period of time of a same sport.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the lockout signal occurs immediately before competitors in the contests are able to see or hear relevant live action unfold.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the lockout signal is triggered based on a countdown time presented simultaneously to all competitors.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the one or more events comprise classic games of skill including card, dice, trivia and word games played simultaneously.