# US 2013/0157736 A1 · Systems and Methods for Playing and Managing Virtual Activities Via User Devices

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- Number: US 2013/0157736 A1
- Document ID: US20130157736A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/722,540
- Filed: 2012-12-20
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20
- Assignees: Sports Challenge Network, LLC
- Inventors: Colin York Smith; Thomas Jay Costales; Douglas Lloyd Shaffren; Matthew Thomas Ohlman; Tim Minard
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130157736A1

## CPC

- A63F 13/327: using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
- A63F 13/35: Details of game servers
- G06Q 30/0207: Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
- H04L 67/131: Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

Generally, systems and methods for playing and managing electronic games via a mobile device. According to one aspect, users can be located at geographically distributed activity centers (e.g., bowling alleys, golf courses, etc.). Further aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to engaging in challenges with other mobile device users via a mobile software application, wherein the challenges are based on live, in-person activities. Specifically, a user of an embodiment of the present system is able to link scores, statistics, and other information corresponding to an in-person activity (or game) to a virtual environment, thus enabling the user to “play” against another user (often in a separate geographical location) based on the other user's actual, in-person activity.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In a virtual activity management computer system (VAMS), wherein the VAMS includes a VAMS management server wirelessly connected to one or more edge servers located at one or more corresponding activity centers, and wherein the one or more edge servers are operatively coupled to one or more electronic scoring systems affiliated with the one or more activity centers, wherein one or more users physically perform one or more activities at the one or more activity centers, a method for enabling virtual activity challenges, comprising the steps of:
receiving a request from a user at the VAMS management server relating to initiation of an electronic activity challenge corresponding to a physical activity being performed by the user at a particular activity center, wherein the request is transmitted to the VAMS management computer system by an electronic device of the user;
retrieving one or more predefined rules that define criteria of the electronic activity challenge initiated by the user;
receiving and storing activity information at the VAMS management server corresponding to the physical activity being performed by the user at the particular activity center, wherein the activity information is necessitated by the criteria of the one or more predefined rules relating to the electronic activity challenge, and wherein the activity information is obtained from a particular electronic scoring system at the particular activity center and transmitted to the VAMS management server via a particular edge server at the particular activity center; and
upon determination that the activity information satisfies the criteria of the electronic activity challenge, generating an outcome of the electronic activity challenge.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the particular edge server comprises a plug PC.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic activity challenge comprises one or more of the following: head-to-head virtual game play, virtual game play, user-defined game play, an in-activity challenge, a subset of the physical activity.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the physical activity being performed by the user comprises a sporting event.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the sporting event being performed by the user is selected from the group comprising: bowling, golf, fishing, running, cross-training.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device of the user is selected from the group comprising: a cellular phone, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
identifying a second user to compete in the electronic activity challenge;
retrieving activity information corresponding to a physical activity being performed by the second user; and
using the activity information corresponding to the physical activity being performed by the second user in connection with generating the outcome of the electronic activity challenge.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the second user is performing the physical activity at a second activity center geographically disparate from the particular activity center.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the particular edge server at the particular activity center is in electronic communication with the particular electronic scoring system managed by the particular activity center.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the outcome of the electronic activity challenge is selected from the group comprising: win, lose, draw, true, false, error.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting the generated outcome from the VAMS management server to the electronic device of the user.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying the outcome of the electronic activity challenge to the user via the electronic device of the user.

### Claim 13

A method for managing activity data corresponding to physical activities being performed by players at one or more activity centers, wherein one or more local edge servers are physically located at the one or more activity centers and are in operative communication with one or more electronic scoring systems at the one or more activity centers, comprising the steps of:
receiving activity data at a particular local edge server from a respective electronic scoring system at a particular activity center, the activity data corresponding to an activity being performed by a player at the particular activity center;
comparing the activity data to a predetermined data template that defines individual data elements expected in the activity data;
identifying particular data elements of the activity data that satisfy the individual data elements in the predetermined data template:
generating normalized activity data that satisfies a predetermined format based on the identified particular data elements of the activity data; and
transmitting the normalized activity data from the particular local edge server to a management computer system for subsequent use in connection with virtual activity challenges of the player.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the particular local edge server comprises a plug PC.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the activity being performed by the player comprises a sporting event.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the sporting event being performed by the user is selected from the group comprising: bowling, golf, fishing, running, cross-training.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the normalized activity data is used by the management computer system to conduct virtual activity challenges for players.