# US 2014/0155134 A1 · Synchronized gaming and programming > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155134 A1 - Document ID: US20140155134A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/172,539 - Filed: 2014-02-04 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2006-04-12 - Assignees: Winview, Inc. - Applicants: Winview, Inc. - Inventors: David B. Lockton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155134A1 ## CPC - G07F 17/3227: {Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters} - G07F 17/32: for games, toys, sports, or amusements - H04L 65/1094: Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing - H04L 65/4015: {where at least one of the additional parallel sessions is real time or time sensitive, e.g. white board sharing, collaboration or spawning of a subconference} - H04L 65/611: for multicast or broadcast (systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06) - 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}) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract 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, a scavenger hunt or a treasure hunt. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-50. (canceled) ### Claim 51 A method of synchronizing a game, or contest or entertainment with television programming or commercials, the method programmed in a memory of a first device comprising: a. detecting television programming or commercials with which to be synchronized, wherein the television programming or commercials are displayed on a second device; and b. initiating an application to run simultaneously with the programming, the application displayed on the first device. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51 wherein the application is selected from the group consisting of a scavenger hunt game, a treasure hunt game and bingo. ### Claim 53 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51 wherein the game, contest or entertainment is based on the observation of an object or audio or visual event within a television program or commercial, and an execution of an entry on a second screen within a pre-prescribed period of time. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The method of claim 53 wherein points awarded decrement beginning with a first appearance of the object or event. ### Claim 55 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51 wherein an amount of points awarded in the application is variable depending on a speed of input by a user. ### Claim 56 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51 wherein the television programming or commercials and the application are displayed on a single screen. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) The method of claim 56 wherein the single screen includes displaying the application in a picture-in-picture display, an L-shaped space or a graphic overlay. ### Claim 58 (depends on 56) The method of claim 56 wherein a computing device contained within the first device couples to a server via the Internet, wherein the server stores files and displays to be synchronized with the television programming, and wherein the application is separately displayed for user interaction with the game or contest utilizing a controller for the first device. ### Claim 59 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51 wherein the television programming is displayed on the second device, further wherein the second device comprises a wi-fi connection or an open wireless technology to a secondary device to display the application. ### Claim 60 A device for synchronizing a game, contest or entertainment with television programming or commercials comprising: a. a memory for storing an application, the application configured for: i. detecting programming with which to be synchronized; and ii. presenting the game, contest or entertainment simultaneously with the programming; and b. a processing component coupled to the memory, the processing component configured for processing the application. ### Claim 61 (depends on 60) The device of claim 60 wherein the game is selected from the group consisting of a scavenger hunt game, a treasure hunt game and bingo. ### Claim 62 (depends on 60) The device of claim 60 wherein the game or contest is based on the observation of an object or audio or visual event within a television program or commercial, and an execution of an entry on a second screen within a pre-prescribed period of time. ### Claim 63 (depends on 62) The device of claim 62 wherein points awarded decrement beginning with a first appearance of the object or event. ### Claim 64 (depends on 60) The device of claim 60 wherein an amount of points awarded in the application is variable depending on a speed of input by a user. ### Claim 65 (depends on 60) The device of claim 60 wherein the television programming or commercials are displayed on the device. ### Claim 66 (depends on 60) The device of claim 60 wherein the television programming or commercials are displayed on a second device. ### Claim 67 (depends on 60) The device of claim 60 wherein the television programming or commercials and the application are displayed on a single screen. ### Claim 68 (depends on 67) The device of claim 67 wherein the single screen includes displaying the application in a picture-in-picture display, an L-shaped space or a graphic overlay. ### Claim 69 (depends on 67) The device of claim 67 wherein a computing device contained within the device couples to a server via the Internet, wherein the server stores files and displays to be synchronized with the programming, and wherein the game or contest is separately displayed for user interaction with the game or contest utilizing a controller for the device. ### Claim 70 (depends on 60) The method of claim 60 wherein the programming is displayed on the device, further wherein the device comprises a wi-fi connection or an open wireless technology to a secondary device to display the game or contest. ### Claim 71 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51 wherein the programming and the application are synchronized using watermarking or information in audio or video of programming. ### Claim 72 (depends on 60) The device of claim 60 wherein the application is further configured for communicating with a server containing information related to the television programming or commercials. ### Claim 73 A method of synchronizing a game, contest, or entertainment with television programming or commercials, the method executed by a processor coupled to a television tuner, the method comprising: a. detecting television programming or commercials with which to be synchronized; and b. initiating an application to run simultaneously with the programming. ### Claim 74 (depends on 73) The method of claim 73 wherein the application is selected from the group consisting of a scavenger hunt game, a treasure hunt game and bingo. ### Claim 75 (depends on 73) The method of claim 73 wherein the game, contest or entertainment is based on the observation of an object or audio or visual event within a television program or commercial, and an execution of an entry on a second screen within a pre-prescribed period of time. ### Claim 76 (depends on 75) The method of claim 75 wherein points awarded decrement beginning with a first appearance of the object or event. ### Claim 77 (depends on 76) The method of claim 76 wherein an amount of points awarded in the application is variable depending on a speed of input by a user. ### Claim 78 (depends on 73) The method of claim 73 wherein the television programming or commercials and the application are displayed on a single screen. ### Claim 79 (depends on 78) The method of claim 78 wherein the single screen includes displaying the application in a picture-in-picture display, an L-shaped space or a graphic overlay. ### Claim 80 (depends on 78) The method of claim 78 wherein a computing device contained within the first device couples to a server via the Internet, wherein the server stores files and displays to be synchronized with the television programming, and wherein the application is separately displayed for user interaction with the game or contest utilizing a controller for the first device. ### Claim 81 (depends on 73) The method of claim 73 wherein the television programming is displayed on the second device, further wherein a second device comprises a wi-fi connection or an open wireless technology to a secondary device to display the application. ### Claim 82 (depends on 73) The method of claim 73 wherein the programming and the application are synchronized using watermarking or information in audio or video of programming. ### Claim 83 A method programmed in a non-transitory memory of a first device, the method comprising: a. detecting programming with which to be coordinated; and b. coordinating additional data with the programming, wherein the additional data is presented on the first device. ### Claim 84 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein the programming is presented on a second device. ### Claim 85 (depends on 84) The method of claim 84 wherein the first device is a smart phone, and the second device is a television. ### Claim 86 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein the additional data comprises social interaction data. ### Claim 87 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein the programming comprises a commercial. ### Claim 88 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein coordinating includes synchronizing. ### Claim 89 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein existing events in the programming are used as synchronization points as start points for previously downloaded data files to a mobile client. ### Claim 90 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein a synchronization point is a visible or audible event located within the programming. ### Claim 91 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein a synchronization point for a live telecast is contained in audio or video within the programming. ### Claim 92 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein information is inserted in a Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI) or equivalent of a show and tracked online in real-time. ### Claim 93 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein information is embedded in the programming and tracked online in real-time. ### Claim 94 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein determining a start time of the programming includes using a recognizable signal recognizable by the first device. ### Claim 95 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 further comprising delivering a start time of a commercial using a recognizable signal recognizable by the first device. ### Claim 96 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein a plurality of synchronization points are used by a client to continuously check to ensure the programming is coordinated with the additional data. ### Claim 97 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein inserted audio or video is used to continuously check to ensure the programming is coordinated with the additional data. ### Claim 98 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein the inserted audio or video is used by a client to continuously check to ensure the programming is coordinated with the additional data. ### Claim 99 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein the inserted audio or video is used by a server to continuously check to ensure the programming is coordinated with the additional data. ### Claim 100 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein detecting programming further comprises communicating with a server. ### Claim 101 (depends on 88) The method of claim 88 wherein synchronizing comprises: a. determining an amount of delay to precisely synchronize the additional data on the first device and the receipt of the programming presented on a second device; and b. substantially equalizing presentation of the additional data with the programming contained through adjustment for the amount of delay of the programming. ### Claim 102 (depends on 101) The method of claim 101 wherein synchronizing comprises substantially equalizing a delay in receipt of a telecast to ensure participants each receive the additional data at substantially the same time. ### Claim 103 (depends on 101) The method of claim 101 wherein synchronizing comprises determining a participant latency based on specific participant latencies and synchronizing the additional data for each participant. ### Claim 104 (depends on 101) The method of claim 101 wherein synchronizing comprises utilizing an audio or video recognition system on a client with online access to the programming's control server. ### Claim 105 (depends on 101) The method of claim 101 wherein synchronizing comprises using added audio or video events in the programming as synchronization points. ### Claim 106 (depends on 101) The method of claim 101 wherein a plurality of synchronization points within audio or video are used by software on a client in connection with a server to continuously monitor the programming to ensure the additional data presented on the client is precisely synchronized with the programming. ### Claim 107 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein an artifact is inserted into the programming recognizable by an audio receiver in the first device which is utilized to start and continually keep the additional data synchronized with the programming. ### Claim 108 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 further comprising establishing a delay by comparing audio or video samples derived from the first device linked to a server by comparing samples to archived audio or video files of the programming being broadcast. ### Claim 109 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein an archive of a programming is generated contemporaneously with broadcast of the programming. ### Claim 110 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein an adjustment of an amount of delay results in synchronization of receipt of a television signal of the programming and presentation of the additional data on the first device. ### Claim 111 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 further comprising establishing an amount of delay through an automated system which samples an audio or video track of a satellite, cable or over the air broadcast television signal, linked to a server, to provide information related to a precise arrival of an underlying television picture. ### Claim 112 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein the programming is stored on a digital video recorder. ### Claim 113 (depends on 83) The method of claim 83 wherein further comprising determining if there is additional processing of the programming increasing a total length of a delay. ### Claim 114 (depends on 113) The method of claim 113 wherein a delay includes a digital video recorder delay wherein the programming is recorded on the digital video recorder. ### Claim 115 A device for coordinating social interaction data with television programming comprising: a. a memory for storing an application, the application configured for: i. recognizing the television programming with which to be coordinated; and ii. coordinating the social interaction data with the television programming; and b. a processing component coupled to the memory, the processing component configured for processing the application. ### Claim 116 (depends on 115) The method of claim 115 wherein the television programming is presented on a second device. ### Claim 117 (depends on 116) The method of claim 116 wherein the device is a smart phone, and the second device is a television. ### Claim 118 (depends on 115) The method of claim 115 wherein the television programming comprises a commercial. ### Claim 119 (depends on 115) The method of claim 115 wherein coordinating includes synchronizing. ### Claim 120 (depends on 114) The method of claim 114 wherein the application communicates with a server to recognize the television programming. ### Claim 121 A method programmed on a server coupled with a memory storing an archive of television programming comprising: a. detecting a broadcast time of the programming with which to be coordinated through examination of audio or video contained in the archive; b. detecting programming, at the server, with which to be coordinated through examination of data related to a specific program generated in real time on a mobile device and sent to the server; and c. coordinating and presenting additional information on the mobile device related to the programming detected. ### Claim 122 (depends on 121) The method of claim 121 wherein the additional information comprises a television commercial. ### Claim 123 (depends on 121) The method of claim 121 wherein the additional information comprises an award or promotion. ### Claim 124 (depends on 121) The method of claim 121 wherein detecting a broadcast time comprises detecting broadcast times of commercials within the programming.