EA039910B1 - Administration system for individual betting on achievements in fantasy sports - Google Patents

Abstract

A user fantasy bet gaming system is proposed, that includes a game engine and a user's computing device connected to the game engine. The user's computing device includes a graphical user interface, a memory and a processor for executing a software application stored in the memory, wherein the software code enables the user to enter a plurality of betting parameters via the graphical user interface. The game engine includes an opponent matching engine configured to automatically match a user with an opponent for betting by comparing a plurality of betting parameters selected by the user with a plurality of past betting parameters selected by each of the plurality of potential opponents in past bets to find a match between at least one from a plurality of betting parameters and the mentioned parameters of past bets. The game engine is configured to automatically send a plurality of betting parameters to the said opponent so that the said opponent can accept or reject them.

Description

However, this application is a partial continuation and refers to the priority of application for US patent No. 14/927445, filed on October 29, 2015, which is a continuation of PCT/US2014/036241, filed on April 30, 2014 and refers to the priority of: (1) provisional application U.S. Patent No. 61/936501, filed February 6, 2014, and (2) U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/818028, filed May 1, 2013.

All of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Technical field

Some of the considered embodiments of the invention relate to the field of fantasy sports systems and methods.

Prerequisites for the creation of the invention

Currently, fantasy games and game-like applications, including fantasy sports systems, also track and record the performance of individual players when scoring competitions. Since game results and points are determined in part by the performance of individual players, many users closely monitor individual players. A large number of users, when competing with other users in a gaming context, such as in the context of fantasy sports games, have a strong need for a more active way to use and apply their knowledge of individual players. Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved gaming systems and competitive applications that enable users to compete against others in competitions based at least in part on the achievements of individual players.

The essence of the invention

Systems and methods for creating games and game-like applications are proposed, including the application of individual bets for the formation of personal (such as face-to-face) and group bets between users and a home user. The system for generating and administering a plurality of direct betting includes an application service interface, a plurality of user interfaces, a betting application, and a plurality of external information services for tracking the progress and achievements of players during real events, such as sports competitions.

In some of the embodiments of the present invention, a system for administering a plurality of direct wagers between gaming application users and optionally a home user includes: an application service interface including a database and an external data reader communicating with a plurality of external information services; a plurality of user interfaces to provide access to the application service interface; and a betting application comprising a non-volatile computer-readable medium that contains program instructions for administering a plurality of direct bets between users, as well as one or more processors of a computer system associated with said non-volatile computer-readable medium for executing said program instructions, including: (a) receiving the first the participant selected by the first user to participate in the first direct bet; (b) accepting a second participant serving as an opponent to the first participant in said first straight bet; (c) receiving a competitive parameter for the first direct wager; (d) accepting the time period for the first direct bet; (e) receiving confirmation from the second user and, in response to this, activating the first direct wager; (f) instructing the external data reader to accumulate a first set of actual achievement data for the first rival during said time period and a second set of actual achievement data for the second rival during said time period from at least one of said plurality of external information services ; (g) scoring for the first straight bet, the scoring being based on a comparison of the first set of actual performance data and the second set of actual performance data; (h) transmitting the score report to the first user; (i) storing scores in a database; (j) conducting and settling bets.

Said one or more processors may also execute program instructions: to display said first direct wager to a second user on a display; to provide the second user with a choice to send a response consisting of an indicator selected from the following group: accept, reject and counteroffer; to receive a response from the second user; and in response to receiving a response equal to the counteroffer, to display one or more attributes of the first direct bet to the second user for review and change.

Said first member may include a first team, and said second member may include a second team.

The first member may include a first group of two or more members, and the second member may include a second group of two or more members, wherein the second group may have the same number of members as the first group.

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Said one or more processors may also execute program instructions: to receive a selection of a first cash or non-monetary bet associated with the first straight bet; and to apply that bet to the first straight bet based on the game score.

The application service interface may also include a wager reporting tool for displaying a plurality of live wagers to one or more users. Bets can be ordered by date/time or have another logical order.

The application service interface may further include a user community reporting mechanism for collecting and storing user data in a user database, where the user data includes demographic and gameplay behavior data for at least a first subset of other users during a predefined subset of interactions with the application service interface.

In other embodiments of the present invention, an interactive system for a plurality of game-like activities includes: (a) a content management system including a plurality of game templates, a game content database in communication with a plurality of external information services; (b) a plurality of application services in communication with a content management system that includes one or more game-like applications; and (c) one or more user interfaces for providing access to a plurality of application services for a plurality of users, wherein the one or more gaming applications includes a betting application.

Said interactive system may further include a user community reporting mechanism in communication with the content management system for collecting and storing user data in a user database, wherein the user data includes demographic information and gameplay behavior data of at least , for a first subset of other users during a predetermined subset of interactions with a plurality of application services.

The present invention includes a custom fantasy wager game system. The gaming system includes a game engine and a user computing device connected to the game engine. The user computing device includes a graphical user interface, a memory, and a processor for executing a software application stored in the memory, wherein the program code enables the user to enter a plurality of bet parameters via the graphical user interface, including a first screen displaying a plurality of selectable bet duration options; a second screen displaying a plurality of bet item options available for selection; a third screen displaying the selectable options of the first wager type and the second wager type, wherein the first bet type is an increase or decrease in the value of the bet, and the second bet type is a head-to-head comparison of two players on the bet ; a fourth screen displaying a plurality of player-specific selections within the bet item; and a fifth screen showing a plurality of bet amount options available for selection. The game engine may also be configured to accept a plurality of betting options selected by the user. The game engine may also include a matching engine configured to automatically match a user with a betting opponent by comparing a plurality of betting options selected by the user with a plurality of past wagering options selected by each of the plurality of potential opponents in the past wagers to find a match by between at least one of the plurality of bet options and said past bet options. The game engine may also be configured to automatically send a plurality of wager parameters to said opponent so that said opponent can accept or reject them.

The game engine may include a matching mechanism to match the bet and one or more second, or target, users who are highly likely to accept the bet, based on the similarity between the bet parameters and the history of the target users' bet parameters. A home player, such as a casino or a sports bookmaker, can also accept bets directly.

The present invention also includes a method of betting on predicted outcomes for event scores. The method includes launching a betting application on a computing device by a user. The user selects a plurality of bet parameters, including the time duration of the bet; the subject of the bet; bet type; a specific player to bet and the amount of the bet to bet.

A lot of bet parameters can be passed to the micro-match creation engine. The matching engine matches the bet and one or more target users based on comparing the bet parameters with a plurality of past bet parameters for each of the target users, and finds matches between at least one of the bet parameters and the past bet parameters. The bet is then passed on to one or more target users.

The present invention also includes a method of matching a bet against predicted performance over events with a target user who is highly likely to accept such a bet. The first user on the computing device selects a plurality of bet options, including the time duration of the bet; the subject of the bet; bet type; a specific player to bet and the amount of the bet to bet. The bet parameters are compared with a plurality of past bet parameters for each of the plurality of second users and a match is found between at least one of the bet parameters and the past bet parameters. The bet is then transferred to one or more target users for whom there was a match between at least one first user's bet parameter and the second user's past bet parameters.

The above summary of the present invention is not intended to limit the scope of legal protection, or exhaustively describe all possible variations, aspects, implementations, features or advantages of the present invention. A detailed description of the methods and preferred embodiments of the present invention of the present invention is given in the following paragraphs and is accompanied by the accompanying drawings, which are intended to provide a full understanding of the distinctive features of the claimed invention by experts in this field of technology. It should be understood that, within the scope of the present invention, the features mentioned above and the features discussed below may be used not only in the illustrated combinations, but also in other combinations or separately.

Brief description of the drawings

The distinguishing features of the various embodiments of the present invention discussed can be understood in more detail by reading the following detailed description of the invention, in which reference is made to the attached drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a system for creating and administering games in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, illustrated in one example of a platform architecture;

fig. 2 is a sketch illustration of a system for administering face-to-face betting in fantasy sports or other applications, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention;

fig. 3-13 are a series of examples of information displayed by user interfaces in a direct betting system, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention;

fig. 14 is an example of a direct bet list display according to various embodiments of the present invention;

fig. 15-18 are block diagrams of elements of a face-to-face wagering system architecture in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention;

in fig. 19-23 illustrate various types of gameplay themes in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention;

fig. 24-29 are a series of examples of information displayed by user interfaces for a direct wagering system, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention;

in fig. 30 illustrates a user interface for examining players before making a bet or substitution, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention;

in fig. 31 is a head-to-head wager record pop-up window displaying relevant historical data for specific opponents, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention;

in fig. 32 is a function of betting on the entire composition of the team in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

In the following description, the invention will be discussed in more detail with reference to various examples of its implementation. However, these embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as limiting the present invention to any of the specific examples, environments, applications, or specific implementations discussed herein. Thus, the description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention is provided solely for the purpose of illustrating and not limiting the present invention.

For a more complete understanding of the systems, devices and methods proposed in the present invention, you should refer to the following detailed description, examples, drawings and claims, as well as to their above or subsequent description. However, before proceeding with the disclosure and description of the devices, systems and/or methods proposed in the present invention, it is necessary to clarify that the present invention, unless otherwise indicated, is not limited to the specific devices, systems and/or methods considered, that is, obviously , can take other forms. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is solely intended to clarify specific aspects of the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting it.

- 3 039910

Throughout the following description and throughout the drawings, like elements are identified by the same reference numerals. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, that is, for clarity, brevity, or conveying certain information, some elements may be shown in an enlarged form, or partly schematically.

The following description of the invention is intended to explain the principle of operation of one of the embodiments of the present invention, which, as of today, seems to be the best of its authors. In this regard, those skilled in the relevant arts should understand and recognize that many changes can be made to various aspects of the invention described herein and still provide useful results of the present invention. Also, it is obvious that some of the advantages provided by the present invention can be obtained by choosing only a part of the distinctive features of the present invention, without using the rest of the features. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many changes and modifications are possible to the present invention, and may even be necessary in some instances. All such changes and modifications, however, form an integral part of the present invention. Thus, the following description is intended to illustrate the intent of the present invention and not to limit it.

In this document, the expressions one, one of, this, etc. in the singular also include those signified in the plural, unless the context clearly implies otherwise. Accordingly, for example, a reference to a component may include two or more such components, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Ranges may be described herein as extending from about a specific value and/or to about another specific value. If such a range is indicated, ranges from one particular value and/or to another particular value may be included in other aspects of the present invention. Likewise, it is to be understood that when values are indicated as approximate by the prefix about, the use of a specific value forms yet another embodiment of the present invention. It should also be understood that the endpoints of all ranges can make sense both in relation to opposite endpoints and independently of them.

As used herein, the expressions optional or optional means that the event or circumstance described therein may or may not occur, and that the description includes cases in which said event occurs as well as cases in which it does not occur.

Games.

In this document, the term games includes activities performed for the purpose of play or entertainment, as well as game-like interactive activities used to achieve a specific intent or goal. In a broad sense, the games described herein allow users to interact with both the actual game content and game-related tie-ins or prompts (sometimes referred to as calls to action). As described herein, games or game-like interactive systems, including game systems for creating enhanced game sets, provide a greater degree of user engagement in a game. In this document, user engagement refers to the frequency of play, the duration of play, and the depth of user interaction with game content and/or calls to action. Higher user engagement increases the value of the game, especially commercially. Games created and administered using the game creation systems described herein are less expensive, faster to implement, and easier to administer than games created using existing game creation systems.

fantasy games.

Fantasy games are competitions in which each user selects and becomes the manager of an imaginary or fantasy player, team or team of players. Said players may be real players in any of the sports, or non-human participants such as stocks, events, animals, television characters, and the like. Each user scores points according to the performance of each player in the real world. Typically, the user assumes the role of a team manager or coach, selects players during the recruitment process, buys and sells players, forms an active and inactive team line-up (bench), changes line-ups and performs similar actions, in accordance with the set of rules and procedures of each specific sports league. Alternatively, the user may be the fantasy owner of an individual player or group of players.

non-sport games.

Many of the systems and methods described herein are discussed in the context of fantasy football, however, the technology of the present invention can also be effectively applied to a variety of different sports or other quantifiable indicators. For example, in FIG. 19 illustrates examples of gameplay related to

- 4 039910 company stocks, professional hockey, NASCAR racing and the NCAA basketball league. In FIG. 20 illustrates gameplay examples for reality TV results. In FIG. 21 shows examples of gameplay for professional football yards and record sales. In FIG. 22 illustrates examples of gameplay for the results of political and news events. In FIG. Figure 23 illustrates examples of gameplay for weather forecasts and a selection of news events in categories such as USA, World, Politics, and Justice.

System.

Fig. 1 is a sketch illustration 100 of a system for creating and administering games, in accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated, system 100 may include a variety of different interconnected elements that include a content management system 200, application services 300, user interfaces 400, and a mechanism 500 for providing information about a user community. System 100 may also include a game content database 220, an active gameplay database 320, a user database 520, and external data sources 380. External data sources 380 may include external content sources 382 and external applications 388.

In FIG. 1 also illustrates a platform architecture for a system in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. The game creation systems and methods described herein may be provided using a self-service platform that facilitates the creation and administration of games through a set of user-friendly interfaces 400. A system architecture, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, may include the components and modules illustrated in fig. one.

The application service interface 300, as illustrated, may include a REST API 370 for making calls to independent modules. REST (Representational State Transfer) is a style of software architecture for distributed systems such as the Internet. The REST architecture API 370 allows for greater scalability, better management of components and related rules, interface development, and implementation of additional components.

An event handler 460, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, includes a user interface that enables a non-skilled user or administrator to create, edit, modify, and update many different action-event combinations without the need for actual programming. The user interface includes access to a variety of objects stored in the library, such as social network logo stock images with hyperlinks or similar objects, from which the user can choose. The user interface also gives the user or administrator the ability to populate a complete set of event-action relationships in a user-friendly format. The user interface, for example, may include a series of drop-down menus with choices for actions, events, and rules associated with each of them (including, for example, usage counters, time counters, or timers, etc.) The event handler 460 receives input from user and builds a sequence of computer instructions, such as decision trees or similar instructions, for use in a game.

The game engine, or system, and user computing devices may be computing devices that include a processor, non-volatile memory, and program code stored in memory to perform specific functions and implement specific elements of said game engine, systems, and user computing devices, respectively.

A mechanism for providing information about the user community.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the game creation system 100, in accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention, is configured to facilitate the creation and play of an expanded set of games by providing a wide selection of game types and categories and by actively collecting user data across the expanded set of games using a module referred to as the user community information mechanism 500. The mechanism for providing information about the user community 500, in accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention, collects data about users, including information about the behavior of users during registration in the system for creating games and when using it, in the gaming process, during related interactions (e.g. completing surveys and responding to other types of calls to action), and during social media operations (selecting the I like option, selecting the share option for certain content, etc.) across multiple games and over a long period time, potentially populating or updating millions of user data profiles that can be stored in the user database 520.

User data includes the initial profile data provided by the user on a voluntary basis, which usually begins with the provision of access to information already contained

- 5 039910 Posted on your Facebook profile, Twitter account, Foursquare history, or other integrated third-party apps. The provider of the game creation system may also collect user data, through requests or otherwise, at any subsequent time the user is already registered with the system. User data also includes game achievements for each of the specific games the user plays; including, for example, information about whether the user makes accurate predictions in any of the sports, and whether he prefers or likes, at the current time, any product, service or commercial company. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the data is aggregated to generate business intelligence and other useful information in a manner that does not involve the sale or disclosure of information that personally identifies the user. User data may be provided in an aggregated or anonymized format; however, such user data is of commercial value because the user data collected and stored by the game creation system includes a variety of useful demographic information in combination with the history of user behavior on the game creation system and related activities, in accordance with description in this document. Information about demographic groups, combined with information about actual user behavior, determines the value of user data collected and stored by the system for creating games.

Face to face betting.

The systems and methods described herein include an application and a face-to-face betting system, which in some cases may also be referred to as one-on-one betting (Mano e Mano). By face-to-face betting, or straight betting, is used herein to refer to a direct bet between two separate users of an application, such as a gaming application or a fantasy sports application.

The betting application, in accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention, can be configured to allow the first user to create a micromatch (matchup, duel of two players), to transfer the bet to the second user, to control the results of the micromatch, to process the bet, determine the winner , calculation and publication of game points and for updating leaderboards.

At the time of transferring or accepting a bet, as well as at the time of the occurrence of the bet, a match between the teams of the first user who sent the challenge and the second user does not have to be scheduled. For example, the user offering the bet may be in a different league than the second user, or not in any league at all, at the time the bet is submitted. As such, the bet may be 3rd party, outside of the normal fantasy league game schedule. The bet between the first user and the second user can be in any field, including sports, politics, entertainment, current events, and the like.

A bet can be formed according to the following general format.

A [does better than or beats] B on [target] in [field or field of activity] during [target event or time period]. The result of such a micro match can be determined based on statistical indicators in a real game or competition, depending on the specific situation.

The betting application as described herein can be used to select bettors or opponents (A and B) and to form a bet such as Barry Sanders to score more total yards than Marcus Allen in a given Sunday game. The result can be determined, or calculated, based on actual performance (total yards with the ball) during the selected period (Sunday game).

Alternatively, a bet can be formed as a claim that any particular player will make some particular achievement in a given time period. An example of this would be to make the following bet: Barry Sanders will get over 100 yards with the ball during a given Sunday game. The recipient of such a bet, if accepted, will hold the claim that Barry Sanders will not reach the 100 yard goal during that Sunday game.

A head-to-head betting application, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, may be configured to allow users to create micromatches by selecting players, or opponents, from a list, database, or external content source.

In accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sketch illustration of a wagering system 1100 for generating and administering a plurality of direct wagers between users of a gaming application. As illustrated, the wagering system 1100 may include a variety of different and related elements, which include an application service interface 1300, a plurality of user interfaces 1400, and a mechanism 500 for providing user community information. The betting system 1100 may also include a database 1220, a user database 1520, and one or more external information services 1280. The external information services 1280 may include, for example, a sports data feed 1282A, a content API 1284B, and sports data feed 1286 V.

In alternative embodiments of the present invention, wagering system 1100 may include a content management system similar to that illustrated in FIG. one.

Service interface 1300 applications, in accordance with the illustration, may include API 1370 REST for making calls to independent modules. REST (Representational State Transfer) is a style of software architecture for distributed systems such as the Internet. REST architecture API 1370 allows for greater scalability, better management of components and related rules, interface development, and implementation of additional components.

At a logical level, the application service interface 1300, in some of the embodiments of the present invention as illustrated, includes scoring and leaderboard modules, a user manager, a betting engine 1340, micromatch logic 1310, and an event data handler 1360. At the data level, the application service interface 1300 in some of the embodiments of the present invention includes, as illustrated, a persistence manager, a settings manager, a manual data entry interface, and one or more external data readers 1380.

The wagering application, in accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention, may be implemented using a programmed computer. Straight betting can be a contest between participants, or rivals (or prospective rivals), in any of a variety of different fields such as sports, politics or entertainment. A bet may be formed according to the following general format: [First Opponent] will be able to [achieve a better performance in accordance with the competitive parameter] than [Second Opponent] within [a given event or time period]. The result, or game score, of a bet can be determined by comparing the actual performance of each of the participants; for example, in a real game or a real competition. The betting application allows the user to design all elements of direct betting with a dynamic and user-friendly interface. The wagering application may include any, or all, of the features and functions of the gaming system described herein. For example, the betting application may include access to game content or other data that the system has access to; for example, to a photograph of one or both of the contestants.

In the case of tournament play, the first opponent and/or the second opponent may be a player selected from any team participating in the tournament. The competitive parameter can be a set of more game points. The time period may be the second match period in the first match of each opponent in that tournament. In accordance with the sketch illustration in FIG. 2, application service interface 1300 may include micromatch logic 1310. Micromatch logic 1310, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, may include rules, logic, limits, and standard representations of micromatch data. The micro-match data for the example above may include data, or attributes, to populate the fields in this example of the betting phrase: The first opponent will be able to score more points than the second opponent during the second period of the first match of each of the respective opponents in this tournament.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the answer choice mechanism 1340, in accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention, is configured to display choices on a display and to allow the user to select from those choices. In yet another aspect of the present invention, the choice mechanism 340 may also include rules, logic, constraints, and standard data representations for the choices made by users. For example, the game-specific answer choice engine 340 may display choices to the user according to the rules and their associated conditions (e.g., whether the user has selected a time period or not) and may still restrict the choices available to the user (e.g., not allowing selections to be changed). options after entering them). The option selection engine 1340 includes data representations and specific procedures for each wager defined by the micromatch logic 1310.

An event data handler 1360, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, is configured to manage input from each of the external information services 1280. Each external information service 1280 may have its own data configuration that is different from other external information services. The event data handler 1360 includes a specific set of semantic rules for distributing the data coming from each external information service 1280 to the appropriate data locations, according to micromatch logic 1310. In this aspect, the event data handler 1360 parses, sorts, names, correlates, and otherwise coordinates incoming micromatch data, which is processed according to the micromatch logic 1310.

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The event data handler 1360, for example, may include semantic rules for distributing incoming data about parameters such as starting lineup for real world events corresponding to sports matches or competitions. Because the two opponents in a straight bet may compete in different matches on different days, the event data processor 1360 can be configured to receive and analyze data such as starting lineup for the purposes of making a straight bet.

The event data handler 1360, for example, may include semantic rules for distributing incoming data about parameters such as start time for real world events corresponding to sports matches. Since two live betting opponents do not necessarily play each other in a real match, and since the matches each of them participate in may take place at different times, the event handler 1360 handles the start times and other parameters, ensuring that data is accurately collected for each of them. two opponents in a direct bet and the corresponding calculation of game points.

Micromatch data, in accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention, may have the attributes described below for describing and processing direct wagers. For example, each bet can have the following attributes: Event Date, Status (waiting, ongoing, completed, data processing) and Source (information channel or information service used to form the bet). , and then - to calculate the game points for the bet). Each Challenge can have a Question with the following attributes: Title, Mapping Pattern (rules for calculating game scores, such as competitive parameter and time period), Correct Answer ( including a link to the opponent who won the bet) and Score (the number of points intended for the winner of the bet).

A head-to-head betting application, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, may be configured to allow users to create direct wagers by selecting opponents from a list, database, or external content source. Information about future competitions and matches may be obtained from a variety of different external information sources 1280, and may be presented to users as choices in a drop down list or other intuitive interface. The betting application may use a manual data entry interface that allows users to place bets without reference to external data.

In another aspect of the present invention, the betting application can be configured to automatically select and create a number of direct bets between (or among) different opponents, and then to offer these bets to users with the aim of calling other users to direct betting.

In some of the embodiments of the present invention, each external data source may have its own reader, which in turn may have its own corresponding event handler. In this regard, the system may include a plurality of external data readers 1380, and the event handler 1360 may include a plurality of data handlers that work together to collect and organize data.

One-on-one betting gameplay.

In the description below and in the drawings, one example of the one-on-one straight betting procedure is considered. A direct bet can be formed according to the following general format: [First opponent] will be able to [perform better in accordance with the competitive parameter] than [second opponent] within [a given event or time period] In the example below, the first user (Team Kehoesabe) sends a direct bet challenge to the second user (Team Dragon Army) stating that the first opponent (Knoushon Moreno) will gain more total yards than the second opponent (Matt Forte) in a whole day, with a non-monetary (non-monetary) rate equal to 500 fantasy dollar and deducted from both players a fee equal to 99 cents.

In one of the alternative embodiments of the present invention, the first user may send a direct bet to all his friends, all users in a certain group or category, or all users of the system. In this regard, a direct bet can be formed and transferred to a selected group of users as a challenge to the match.

In FIG. 3 illustrates a display 10 which includes a start button 20 (labeled Mano Start) for starting the direct wagering procedure. Further, when the button 20 is selected, the betting application, according to some of the embodiments of the present invention, may open a window displaying a list of teams, or opponents, 30 (or other users of the group, league, or from the user's contacts), in accordance with the illustration fig. 4. In this example, all teams are fantasy sports teams, that is, sets of players created by various specific users. In this regard, the list of commands 30, in fact, is

- 8 039910 list of users.

In this example, the first user is the user who owns the Kehoesabe command. The first user can select an opponent - in this case he selects the Dragon Army team and thereafter, in accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention, the betting application opens a window with a list of betting attributes 40, in accordance with the illustration of FIG. 5. Attributes 40 include selectable icons: My Player 41 (or First Competitor), Your Player 42 (Second Competitor), Stat 43 (Competition Parameter), Time Frame ( Time Frame) 44 (time frame), Fantasy Dollars 45 (optional, non-monetary bet on outcome), Options 46 (to make a payment to a Direct Betting Feature Provider or other entity involved), and Send Challenge ) 47 (to transfer a direct bet after selecting all attributes).

As shown in FIG. 6, in response to the selection of its player 41, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the betting application opens an opponent selection window (on the first user's own team) where the first opponent for direct betting can be selected. In this example, the first player chooses a player named Knoushon Moreno. The user may also be given the opportunity to obtain additional information on each of the members of the list of available players. An example of the additional information screen is shown in FIG. thirty.

In accordance with the illustration of FIG. 7, in response to the selection of its player 41, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the betting application opens an opponent selection window (on the opposing user's team) where a second opponent for direct betting can be selected. In this example, the first player chooses a player named Matt Forte.

As shown in FIG. 8, in response to selecting the score option 43, in accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention, the betting application opens a window with statistics of scores or other competitive metrics available for that particular competition. In this example, the available metrics include Touchdowns, Receptions, and Yards. In this example, the first user selects the yards option. In the case of a basketball competition, for example, available metrics might include rebounds, free throws, and three-point shots.

As shown in FIG. 9, in response to the time frame selection 44, in accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention, the betting application opens a window for selecting the time duration, or other time limit options available for that particular competition. In this example, the available time frames include quarter of the match, half of the match, day, and week. In this example, the first user selects the day option.

As shown in FIG. 10, in response to selecting the fantasy dollars 45 option, in accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention, the betting application opens a window with non-cash (non-monetary) bet amounts. In this example, the available bets include $100, $500, $1000 and all-in. In this example, the first user selects the $500 option.

As shown in FIG. 11, in response to selecting option 46, in accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention, the betting application opens a window with payment options. In this example, the available payment options include $0.59 per player or $0.99 for both players. In this example, the first user chooses $0.99 for both players.

As shown in FIG. 12, in response to the selection to transfer bet 47, in accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention, the betting application displays a notification 50 confirming that the direct bet has been transferred to the second user (owner of the Dragon Army team). If the second user has not been selected, the bet may be posted, or displayed, to a selected subset of users, or to all users, as a challenge.

In FIG. 13 illustrates the display of a direct wager to a second user, in accordance with some of the embodiments of the wagering application. As illustrated, the betting application can display both opponents (along with related information), the betting metric (total yards), the time period (date), and the fantasy bet. The information displayed may also include information about which user made the payment.

As shown in FIG. 13, a betting application, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, includes a response attributes window 60 for use by a second user after receiving a direct bet. Attributes 60 include selectable icons for accept 61, reject 62, and counteroffer 63. In response to accept 61, the betting application notifies the first user that the bet has been accepted without change. In response to reject selection 62, the betting application sends a notification to the first user that the bet has been rejected. In response to selecting a counteroffer option, the betting application displays to the second user a series of windows with selectable icons for making changes to the attributes of the direct bet. Upon completion of the changes, the betting application displays a send bet icon to the second user to send the changed bet (counter offer) back to the first user for review.

- 9 039910

In FIG. 14 shows the display of the betting list 70. In response to selecting the icon labeled Challenges 22, the betting application displays the betting list 70 along with one or more filters or categories. In this example, list 70 includes the name of the opponent user (second user), bet name, game points, date, status (won or lost), and bet amount, if any. Instead of or in addition to other information columns, a column with statistical information about the results of personal bets with specific opponents can also be displayed. In some alternative embodiments, in accordance with the illustration of FIG. 31, a pop-up window may be displayed to the user with statistical information about the results of personal betting. The pop-up window displays the relevant data on the history of the bet with specific opponents. In accordance with the illustration of FIG. 32, the user can also send bets on the entire squad.

Let's return to Fig. 3, another feature in some of the embodiments of the present invention is the chat function, in which the opponents can discuss bets or other topics, as well as verbally provoke the opponent into a bet (talk smack). The user selects the Smack button on the bottom row of buttons and proceeds to the Frequent screen. The use of chat, then, in some of the embodiments of the present invention is similar to messaging applications.

Direct bets such as two on two or more.

The betting application, in accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention, may be configured to allow the user to make a two-by-two bet; that is, a wager between the first two opponents and the two second opponents. In this regard, the first challenger may be a group of two or more users, and the second challenger may be a group of two or more users, each of the groups must have the same number of members. In this embodiment of the present invention, each pair of opponents may have their own competitive parameter (for example, the number of yards with the ball or total yards), each pair may have their own stakes and / or fees imposed, and the duration of the time period may cover several matches in real life. the world. In this regard, the betting application may be configured to provide betting with three or more opponents, or an entire team, on each of the opposing sides. Alternatively, the betting application may also be configured to allow one or more opponents to participate in direct betting against a home user, similar to how a blackjack player can play against a casino and all other players sitting at the same time. same table, also play against the same casino.

The mechanism for providing information about the user community for betting.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the system 1100, in accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention, is configured to provide for the formation and participation in a set of direct wagers, as well as for actively collecting user data across a set of wagers between users using a module, called the mechanism 1500 for providing information about the user community and illustrated in FIG. 2. The mechanism for providing information about the user community 1500, in accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention, collects data about users, including information about the behavior of users during registration in the system for creating games and when using it, in the gameplay, during related interactions with them (e.g. completing surveys and responding to other types of calls to action), and in the course of social media operations (selecting the I like option, selecting the share option for certain content, etc.), as well as in the course of betting, across multiple games and over a long period of time, potentially populating or updating millions of user data profiles that can be stored in the user data base 1520.

User data includes the original profile data voluntarily provided by users. The provider of the betting system and/or gaming system may also collect user data, by request or otherwise, at any subsequent time. User data also includes game achievements for each of the specific games the user plays; including, for example, information about whether the user makes accurate predictions in any of the sports, and whether he prefers or likes, at the current time, any product, service or commercial company. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the data is aggregated to generate business intelligence and other useful information in a manner that does not involve the sale or disclosure of information that personally identifies the user. User data may be provided in an aggregated or anonymized format; however, such user data is of commercial value because the user data collected and stored by the game creation system includes a variety of useful demographic information in combination with the history of user behavior on the game creation system and related activities, in accordance with described in this document. Information about demographic groups, combined with information about actual user behavior, determines the value of user data collected and stored by the system for creating games.

Collective intelligence based on a bet.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the mechanism 1500 for providing information about the user community, in accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention, includes a collective intelligence module for analyzing and ranking a number of face-to-face type bets, on various topics, within a predetermined period time, in order to determine the value predicted by the collective mind, on a specific topic. During its operation, the module can determine the subset of bettors who win most often on a specific topic, and generate a report for the client on such a subset.

In this aspect of the present invention, the task of the collective intelligence module is to study a certain topic (subject area) (sports, movie awards, etc.), determine the bets that are most often winning on various topics, and analyze these predictions over a certain period of time to ensure accuracy and consistency. Since the betting system 1100 includes a large number of players participating in a plurality of face-to-face betting over a long period of time, the bettors who are most frequently successful represent the collective mind of all the players who are users of the betting system. In commercial terms, collective intelligence is valuable insofar as it represents business intelligence that can be the basis for action, i.e. have practical relevance in many different contexts.

Collective betting expert.

In one relevant aspect of the present invention, the mechanism 1500 for providing information about the user community, in accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention, includes a collective expertise module for analyzing and ranking bets such as face-to-face, by users and by topic, during a predetermined period time, in order to identify a subset of expert users (the so-called collective gurus), those who most often win bets on certain topics. In its operation, the collective expertise module may determine the users who win bets most often on a certain topic, and may transmit the identification information of these expert users to the client.

In this aspect of the present invention, the collective expertise module finds the users who win the most bets in a certain topic (sports, movie awards, etc.) and identifies each of these users as a collective expert. In accordance with some of the embodiments of the present invention, the bets of each of the users are analyzed over time, by topic, and the user (or users) who most often wins the bet is determined. Because the gaming system includes a large number of players participating in multiple face-to-face betting over a long period of time, the winning bettors can most often be identified as the collective experts on that particular subject. In commercial terms, bets created by a collective expert, or a subset of collective experts, have value because they represent business intelligence that can be the basis for action, i.e. have practical relevance in many different contexts. The collective expertise module counts the number of bets won by the user, according to certain columns, and aggregates the bets created by the best experts (collective experts with the best indicators included in the updated list based on recent results), analyzes the data using the mechanism 1500 for providing information about the user community and other tools, and uses this data to generate collective expertise data for sale on the market, which in doing so can be presented, for example, in the business intelligence reporting console described in this document.

A collective expertise module, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, is configured to determine the top performing users in each of the game categories by aggregating game points of wagers won over time, by category, or by any other selected metric, and to maintain an updated subset users with the best results. For example, the top 5% of bettors on Monday night American football games, the top 10% of bettors during March Madness, etc.

In this aspect of the present invention, the betting system 100 and user community reporting mechanism 500 can be used to determine: (a) the opinion of the collective mind on a certain topic and/or (b) the best collective experts based on their actual win/loss performance on a certain topic. a subset of face-to-face type betting dedicated to this topic. Unlike existing tools, which are sometimes referred to as prediction engines, the collective intelligence module and the collective expertise module are based on real achievements in face-to-face betting.

- 11 039910

The architecture of the face-to-face betting system.

On the example of Fig. 15-18, additional aspects of the system architecture relating to straight and/or heads-up betting will be discussed. In FIG. 15 shows a service interface 600 and various associated elements in a direct wagering application, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

The direct betting application may be associated with an input feed from external sources 602, such as one or more sports feeds. For each data source (internal or external), there may be an event data handler 604 that is configured to administer the data source, opponents, user-created micromatches, real world event times and results, and opponent quantitative statistics and achievements.

The user interacts with the service interface 600 through a variety of user interfaces, including mobile applications (eg, on smartphones and tablets), web applications, smart TV applications, and game console interfaces. For users to interact with the gaming system, computerized kiosks connected via a network to the services interface may also be provided.

In accordance with the illustration of FIG. 16, one or more external data readers 608, such as sports channels A, B, etc., may be used in the direct betting system. data, as well as content APIs for collecting betting data available from external information services, such as sports web channels or other content delivery channels. Betting data can also be manually entered into the statistics database.

In accordance with the illustration of FIG. 17, the data entering the wagering system from the external data readers 608 may have specific formatting. For example, the data needed in the betting system may be the date of the event, opponents, quantitative statistics, and the like. In the event data handler 610, a translator can be implemented that converts the data from these external sources into the common micromatch data format 612 used in the betting system. This can be implemented, for example, through the use of XML data forms.

For each data source, there is an event data processor that administers the data sources and generates a sequence of potential and actual micro matches by combining opponents, event times, and quantitative statistics. Micromatches can be automatically generated by the betting system based on the business logic of the system, and the betting system can offer these micromatches to users.

In accordance with the illustration of FIG. 18, the betting application can be configured to process data starting at start point 620, where user A selects an opponent (manually or using a matchmaking mechanism, for example) and also selects a second opponent opposing the first, thus determining a micromatch. . The betting application may also be configured to allow user A to select the options needed to create bet 622; for example, [opponent] will be able to [better] than [opposing opponent] in [specified area of activity] within [specified event or time period]. After making a bet, user A can use the betting application to select another user, user B, and then to transfer the call to bet to user B.

User B can accept or reject the bet (624). If the bet is accepted, then the bet is officially created (626). The betting application is configured to monitor the performance of the opponent and his opponent, to determine the winner of the micromatch (628), to process the bet (630) and to publish game scores in the leaderboard (632).

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the betting application can be configured to automatically select and create a number of micromatches between (or among) different opponents, and then offer these micromatches to users for use in betting.

Gameplay type bet without purchase.

In one alternative embodiment of the present invention, a direct bet may be created by the user in the form of a predictive bet on the predicted performance of a particular player, or players, for a particular parameter during a particular event. For example, a user may place a direct bet with a casino (eg, a gambling casino or a sports bookmaker) that a particular football player in a professional league match currently in progress will successfully complete a kick that is guaranteed to be attempted. In another example, a bet might be that a specific player in a match on the current day will reach a specific number (e.g., Adrian Petersen, fullback from the Minnesota Vikings will get over 100 yards with the ball during today's match). and the bet is passed to the casino, where it can be accepted, rejected, or a counter bet can be formed. Then the bet points are calculated and the winner is determined. Then, the balance in the user's internal account, external account, such as a bank account, credit card account, or other account, is replenished or reduced accordingly. The user can also pay using methods such as Bitcoin

- 12 039910 or other virtual currency, or using payment services, such as PayPal, etc.

Obviously, the subject of a bet does not have to be a player of any type of dispute, the subject of a bet can also be any quantitative indicator. For example, a user may offer a bet to a casino that a particular stock will hit a particular quantitative metric on a given day or part of the day (for example, CAT shares will rise 2% before the last bell). Again, the bet is passed to the casino, where it can be accepted, rejected, or where a counteroffer can be formed, and then the bet scoring is performed and the winner is determined. The balance in the user's account, credit card account, or other account is then replenished or reduced accordingly.

The proposed system and method of direct betting allows the user to bet or bet on specific achievements of players or objects without having to actually acquire those players or objects. In the case of sports players, the bettor does not have to be in the user's fantasy team. The bet can be for any players, regardless of the composition of the team. Thus, the user can follow the results and bet on his favorite players, even if he does not own them, playing in a certain league. The user does not have to belong to any league. Similarly, the user can bet on the performance of specific stocks without having to purchase them. This approach also allows you to avoid paying commission to the broker and other transaction fees.

The casino or sportsbook maintains a database that contains a register of the user's transactions in accordance with traditionally applied accounting and security standards.

An individual user can also act as a casino player. In this role, the user can place multiple direct bets against other users, or accept multiple direct bets from other users, or some combination of the above. In such a scenario, the casino or sports bookmaker may place the bet and keep a percentage of the bet (or a flat fee) as compensation. The casino or sports bookmaker may temporarily hold the funds provided in the form of a bet by both parties to the bet in an escrow account after the start of the bet. This ensures that the bettor and his opponent have enough funds to pay the winner of the bet.

In yet another alternative, the casino may act as a matchmaker or betting exchange in which a user's bet is offered or displayed by a plurality of other users in order to activate it. Thus, the user who created the bet does not have to send it to specific target users. Instead, wagers are placed on an exchange (game engine) and the matchmaking engine, which is part of the game engine or exchange, offers bets to other users who may be interested in participating. Algorithms can be used in the matchmaking engine to identify recipients who are likely to accept a bet. For example, a target user who is highly likely to accept a bet on a given topic can be indicated by metrics such as the type of event in question, bet size, time frame, player or performer in question, and other metrics that match the user's past bets. The match maker can also create matches based on the winning percentage of the bet maker and his potential opponents. Thus, the exchange, or the mechanism of formation of matches, can select pairs of opponents for betting based on predictions. Users who do not yet have a history of past wagers may be matched based on a preference request as part of the registration process, or by accepting new users to wager from the casino or directly from other users.

Direct bets can be created using a computing device connected to the game engine, for example, similar to the above description for a face-to-face type bet.

The time frame for making a bet such as a bet without a purchase can be any. For example, the duration for making a bet could be the result of a whole season in some sport, or the bet could be completed in a minute, an hour, a day, or any multiple of these. A bet may also be tied to a specific event, such as the outcome of a sports match or the announcement of the winner of a competition, or other decision.

In some territorial regions, cash rates may be prohibited, so non-cash rates may be used instead. For example, as an alternative to money, virtual currency, competitive points for rewards, prizes, sweepstakes, etc. can be used.

The casino may also offer wagers to one or more users.

Algorithms may be applied in the game engine to ensure that opponents with exceptional circumstances (financial reports, abnormal trading volumes, insider dealings, corporate news, athlete injuries, etc.) are not included or available for betting where stakes exceed their funds or in which their participation is for some reason prohibited. Likewise, the game engine may deprive one or more of the players of the ability to be the subject of a wager in cases where

- 13 039910 when a bet on player performance would be unfair, dangerous or otherwise.

Casino customer points can be earned for direct betting transactions in which the user participates, similar to other casino games. In addition, or alternatively, the amount wagered and the funds won may be used to reward users with in-game titles, levels, badges, or other rewards.

The opponent of the casino can bet on the predicted outcome with a percentage probability, or the bet can be pure (without a percentage probability).

The Casino may maintain a public leaderboard based on the percentage of bets won and the total amount won or other metrics. Optionally, the casino may give users the option to opt out of being represented on the public leaderboards.

Examples of direct wagers of the no-buy type of bet include: a particular stock or commodity will increase or decrease in price over a predetermined period of time; a horse in a given lane will perform better than a horse in another particular lane over the next three races; specific athlete A will perform better than specific athlete B in a given statistical category for a predetermined time period; a particular security, commodity, or athlete will outperform an opponent in a given statistical category within a short, predetermined period of time; or a particular security or commodity will peak or reach a particular level at any point in time within a predetermined rate period.

An increased level of security can be achieved if a secure server, which is located at the casino site, in a secure local area network, is connected to a centralized server via an encrypted, private wide area network (WAN) connection. Upon receipt of chips used in gameplay, users may be provided with biometric security measures. The game engine may provide registration and control of user device identifiers. User devices can be equipped with hardware access protection keys. The Casino may also require users to participate in games within the secure local area network of the casino or other gaming venue. Tracking the geolocation of user devices helps ensure that users are located in regions where gambling is legal or permitted.

Further, in accordance with the illustration of FIG. 24-29, one example of a direct wager of the no-buy type will be discussed, with links to one of the examples of a graphical user interface.

After the user launches the no-purchase betting application on their computing device, the user may be presented with the screen illustrated in FIG. 24. This screen allows the user to assign a time duration to bet 700. Referring to the illustration of FIG. 25, after selecting a time duration, the user is presented with options to select a wager item 702, i.e., stocks, commodities, and the like.

Then, in accordance with the illustration of FIG. 26, the user may select a bet type 704. In this example, the specified bet type may correspond to the fact that the price of a particular stock will rise or fall, or that the selected stock will perform better or worse than another particular stock (bet type one on one). Next, in FIG. 27, the user selects his particular player 706, which in this case is the stock to be wagered on the rise or fall in the stock price.

The interface shown in Fig. 28 allows the user to set the predicted outcome for a particular stock at the end of said time period, rise or fall, 708, compared to the price of the selected stock listed in the sub-window header. The user may also select the desired bet amount (step 710). The user then selects the place bet button, confirming his bet and starting the bet (step 712).

Fig. 29 is a user's transaction screen listing the user's past bets of the no-buy type, including points accrued from the results and the bet amount for each bet. The currently pending wager 714 is highlighted while the past wagers 716 are not, so that the user can quickly distinguish between current and past wagers. Player 718's reward points are also shown on the summary screen.

An arrow pointing to the left in the header of each of the screens allows the user to navigate to the previous page. The home button returns the user to the home screen.

A one-on-one or face-to-face micromatch can also be the subject of a no-buy bet. Micro-matches can be created between athletes, politicians, actors, musicians and other players, with the measurement of statistical and quantitative indicators, regardless of whether they compete with each other directly or not. In accordance with the foregoing description, users submit face-to-face type bets to opponents, for example having the following format: X will perform better than Y at time Z (within a given time frame or within a given event). For example: who will score more yards with the ball today, Sunday, Barry Sanders or Marcus Allen? In another example, Barry Sanders will have more or fewer yards with the ball than Marcus Allen during the current weekend's PFL series. The same approach can be applied to many different types of subject areas, as already mentioned in this application.

Several different embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, however, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the present invention or modifications of the described technology may be found or proposed based on the intent of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described or discussed herein, i. other embodiments or modifications may fall within the scope of the appended claims. However, the specific terminology used in this document and the appended claims is used in a general and descriptive sense only and should not be construed as limiting the invention described or the appended claims or concept of the invention.

CLAIM

Claims (8)

CLAIM 1. Custom fantasy betting game system, including a game engine; and a user computing device having a connection with the game engine, wherein the user computing device includes a graphical user interface, a memory, and a processor for executing a software application stored in the memory, wherein the program code enables the user to enter a plurality of wagering parameters through a graphical user interface, including a first screen displaying a plurality of bet time options available for selection; a second screen displaying a plurality of bet item options available for selection; a third screen displaying the selectable options of the first wager type and the second wager type, wherein the first bet type is an increase or decrease in the value of the bet, and the second bet type is a head-to-head comparison of two players on the bet ; a fourth screen displaying a plurality of player-specific selections within the bet item; and a fifth screen displaying a plurality of selectable bet amount options for betting, wherein the game engine is configured to receive a plurality of betting parameters selected by the user, the game engine includes an opponent matching mechanism configured to automatically match the user with the betting opponent by comparing the plurality of parameters bets selected by the user, with a plurality of past bet parameters selected by each of the plurality of potential opponents in past wagers to match at least one of the plurality of bet parameters and said past bet parameters, and wherein the game engine is also configured to automatically transmit the set parameters of the bet to the mentioned opponent so that the said opponent can accept or reject them. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wagering parameters include bet amount, time duration, and bet item. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said adversary is a home user, including a casino or sports bookmaker, wherein the game engine accepts or rejects a bet on behalf of the home user. 4. The system according to claim 1, in which the set of betting time options available for selection includes 2, 5 and 10 minutes. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of bet options available for selection include stocks, commodities, and sports. 6. The system according to claim 1, in which the specific player is the shares of a joint-stock company. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the user computing device is also configured to display, via a graphical user interface, a transaction screen listing details of the user's past bets, said details including results points and the corresponding bet value for each listed. bet. 8. The system of claim 1, further including a game engine configured to reward or reward the user based on the user's bet value and the user's win and loss history.