MXPA02009867A - Systems and methods for controlling television distribution bandwidth and for utilizing real time statistical wagering data. - Google Patents

Abstract

A system is provided in which video feeds are distributed to the user equipment of multiple users. Each user s equipment may be based on a set top box and television or other user television equipment, a personal computer or handheld computing device or other user computer equipment, or a cellular telephone with a display or other user telephone equipment. The video feeds may be distributed to the user equipment using feed distribution equipment. The demand for the video feeds may be monitored. The distribution of the video feeds may be based on the demand. The user may be provided with opportunities to place wagers using the user equipment. Statistics related to users wagers may be gathered in real time and various actions taken based on the statistics.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO CONTROL THE TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION BAND WIDTH AND TO USE STATISTICAL DATA OF BETS IN REAL TIME This application claims the benefit of the provisional application North American, No. 60/194, 857, filed on April 5, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to interactive applications with, for example, interactive television applications, and more particularly to interactive television systems, and Power signals may not be as popular as others. Even when it is. In general, it is desirable to be able to provide viewers with a wide selection of programming, it being able to support too many unpopular television channels can be an inefficient use of the bandwidth of the i 1 system. , Interactive betting applications are available which allow users to place electronic bets. Betting is a popular pastime. Many racing enthusiasts bet on events such as horse races, dogs and harnessed horse races. However, it can be uncomfortable for a person to be present at racing events. 1 Not all racing fans have the time, enough to go to the race tracks as often as they would like and some fans have trouble getting an adequate transport to the track. Establishments for off-piste betting are available to fans who can not go to the race events themselves, but fans should nonetheless go to the betting establishments that are located off the piste. I As a result, interactive systems have been developed to bet on television where fans can place their bets off the tracks using cable television boxes connected to their televisions. Interactive gambling systems can also allow users to place bets through a personal or similar computer. It is an object of the present invention to offer a television system where the video feed signals distributed to the users in their homes can be managed based on the demand by the user.1 It is another object of the present invention to offer interactive systems for betting where statistical information about betting acties is collected. COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION A system is provided in which users can bet on races electronically using the user equipment. Each user equipment may be based on a cable television box or television or other user television equipment, a personal computer or a portable computer or other type of user computing equipment, or a cell phone or another type of user telephone equipment. The user can have access to video feed signals through an interactive application to bet, through an interactive guide of television programs, or by using any suitable application or arrangement. The signals of, feeding > video can be distributed to the user equipment using distribution equipment of t power signals in distribution facilities. The distribution facilities. they may be, for example, high-frequency sections of cable television or other suitable facilities for distributing television channels or other video content to users. The demand for video feed signals can be monitored. For example, the demand for video power signals can be monitored by the combination of user equipment. The demand for the video power signals can also be monitored by monitoring channel change commands that are received from the user equipment., by monitoring the payment programs by events requested by the user, by monitoring the status of an interactive application to 'bet, an interactive guide of television programs or another suitable interactive television application, etc. The distribution of the video power signals can be managed based on the demand for power signals.

For example, power signals that are not popular may be abandoned by the power signal distribution equipment. Users can be informed when the power signals already 1 are not available. For example, program schedule information may be updated, information may be provided to the user with an interactive television application (for example, an interactive betting application) that reflects the currently available food signals, etc. You can collect in real time statistics about the betting activities of the bettors. For example, the distribution facility can collect statistical information about bets that are being made, where bets are being made, etc. Interactive and similar screens can be presented to the user, which contain this statistical information. | Statistical information may also be provided to a television producer or other appropriate entity for its use in real time in an adapted television programming, to the client which is provided to the users. For example, in a betting system, information can be provided on which are the most popular races and racetracks. This information can be used to make sure that the most popular races and racetracks are covered in a television channel for betting or the like.; · The statistical information that is collected and the on-demand information for the various video power signals can be used to assign bandwidth of video feed signal 1. For example, if a video feed signal for a particular track is not popular, then this video feed signal may be abandoned and the bandwidth for this power signal may be used elsewhere. Additional features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative interactive betting system with which an interactive gambling application can be implemented in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 shows a screen (of illustrative main menu that can be provided to a user through an interactive betting application in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3 shows an illustrative track selection screen that can be offered to the user when the user is creating a bet according to the present invention. . Figure 4 shows an illustrative career selection screen that can be provided to the user when the user is creating the bet in accordance with the present invention. Figure 5 shows an illustrative screen of selection and types of bets that can be provided to the user when the user is creating the bet according to the present invention. ! Figure 6 shows an illustrative horse selection screen that can be provided to the user when the user is creating the bet according to the present invention.

Figure 7 shows an illustrative screen of selection of amount of the bet that can be provided to the user when the user is creating, the bet according to the present invention. Figure 8 shows an illustrative betting queue screen that can be provided to the user to allow the user to submit bets created, and perform other functions in accordance with the present invention. Figure 9 shows the selection of a desired video feed signal from a list of available video feed signals presented to the user through the "interactive betting application in accordance with the present invention." Figure 10 shows an illustrative menu screen that can be presented to the user to allow the user to invoke various devices such as a program list service. and an interactive betting service in accordance with the present invention Figure 11 shows the selection of a desired video feed signal from a program guide pattern or the like in accordance with the present invention. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing how video feed signals can be provided through multiple video production systems in accordance with the present invention Figure 13 is a schematic diagram showing how a video distribution equipment Power signals in a distribution facility can be used to distribute videos' to users from, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 14 is a flow diagram of the illustrative steps involved in monitoring the demand for j video feed signals and the distribution of video feed signals to users based on the! claim in accordance with the present invention.1) Figure 15 shows an illustrative screen that can be presented to the user to provide the user with the information on [betting statistics in accordance with the present invention. J 1 Figure 16 shows an illustrative screen that can be presented to the user to provide the user with the graphic information on betting statistics in accordance with the present invention. . Figure 17 shows an illustrative warning message that can be presented to the user when the statistics of real-time bets correspond to the criteria specified by the user of compliance with the present invention. Figure 18 is a flowchart of the illustrative steps involved in the collection and use of statistical information in real time in terms of betting activities in accordance with the present invention. ,; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES An illustrative system 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown in Figure 1. Aspects of the invention are applied to various types of interactive application. For example, aspects of the present invention apply to interactive television systems such as on-demand video systems or interactive betting systems that offer television or video content to users. Aspects of the present invention also apply to La, 'present with the text of horse cares) for specificity and clarity. 1 The races can be done on racetracks 12, which can be found in several geographical locations. The races made on racetracks can be transmitted simultaneously to the viewers. For example, simultaneous transmission videos can be provided to users with satellite receivers or to establishments of: off-site betting via satellite transmission. 1 The system 10 can be used to provide an interactive betting service to the users of various user equipment, ü the interactive betting application can be used to provide the betting service. The interactive betting application can work locally on the user equipment (for example, in a cable television control box, personal computer, e-book, cell phone, handheld computing device, etc.) or it can function using a client-server or distributed architecture where a part of the application is implemented locally on the user equipment in the form of a client process and another part of the application is implemented at a remote location (for example ,, on a server computer or other computer of this type in the system) server process. These! arrangements are simply illustrative. Other suitable techniques for implementing the interactive betting application can be used if desired. Real-time videos from racetracks 12 can also be provided to the video production system '14 for distribution to users as part of a television betting service (for example, a television channel related to bets' or a service provided through the Internet or similar). If desired, multiple simultaneous transmission videos can be provided to a video production system 14 in real time. In talent (for example, commentators) for the television betting service provided by the interactive betting application can be found in studio 16. Study '16 can provide a video feed containing queries and similar to a production system video 14. Graphic overlays can be added to the television betting service (ie, integrated graphics) to the service in the video production system 14. > The system for making television bets can use a video production system 14 to combine selected segments of video from simultaneous transmissions of races with the video feed coming from study 16 and suitable graphic overlays. If desired, a video production system 14 or a separate installation can be used to reformat simultaneous transmissions from racetracks 12.

For example, if the race tracks 12 provide simultaneous transmissions as traditional analog television channels, the video production system 14 (or a separate installation) can convert these simultaneous transmissions or portions of these simultaneous transmissions into digital signals (eg, digital video signals) or in a different number of analog signals. Digital video signals may require a lower bandwidth than analog video signals and may be appropriate for situations in which videos must be transmitted through high or low bandwidths. Low bandwidth paths can include telephone lines, Internet, etc. A video production system 14 can be used to provide a television betting service that includes selected simulcast videos, studio video 16, and graphic overlays to television distribution facilities 18 (for redistribution to the television user equipment 22 and user computing equipment 20), a, user computing equipment 20, and user telephone equipment 32 (if the telephone user equipment 32 has | a display area capable of displaying motion pictures). The television distribution facilities 18 can be any suitable installation for supplying television to users such as high frequency sections of a cable television system, satellite systems, television transmission systems, or other suitable systems or combinations of television sets. such systems.

The user computing equipment 20 can be any suitable computer equipment that supports an interactive application for betting. For example, the user computing equipment 20 can be a personal computer. The user computing equipment 20 may also be based on a macro computer, a workstation, a computer or several networked computers, a portable computer, a notebook type computer, a manual computing device such as a digital assistant personal or another small laptop, etc. One aspect of the present invention relates to the use of an electronic book platform such as user computing equipment 20 or part of a user computing equipment 20. Each of the television distribution facilities 18 is typically found in a different geographical location. Users with television equipment; 22 can receive the television betting service from a distribution facility of associated television. The user television equipment J 22 may include, for example, a television or other suitable monitor. A television can be used to view the television betting service on a channel of traditional analog television. The user television set 22 i may also include a digital or analog cable television box i connected to a television distribution facility 18 via a cable connection. A digital cable television box can be used to receive the television betting service on a digital channel. If desired, a 'team of User television 22 may contain a satellite receiver, a WebTV box, a personal television (PC / TV), or similar equipment to these devices where cable television box capabilities have been integrated. A recording device, such as a video recorder or a digital recording device (for example, a personal video recorder or a digital video recorder based on hard disk drives or similar) can be used in user television equipment 22 to store videos. ' The recording device may be separate from the other components of the user television equipment 22 or be part of said components.; j 1 I The user computing equipment 20 can receive the television betting service using a video card or another equipment with video capability to receive analog or digital videos (for example, group of experts of MPEG motion pictures) to depart from a television distribution facility. A user computing equipment can also receive the television betting service directly from the production system of video 14, i using, for example, an i modem link. If desired, the video for service. of bets on television pu, ede be compressed (for example, using MPEG techniques). This can be useful, for example, if the access path to the user computing equipment 20 is a modem connection using telephone links. If the video production system 14 is only used to serve user computing equipment 20 without traditional analog television capabilities, a video production system 14 may only require | of < provide such digitally compressed video signals and no. analog television signals. Video clips of racing and other simulcast information - can be provided to users in the form of a bet service by television or through an interactive betting service, provided by the interactive application! to bet. ' If desired, 'videos related to careers can be provided to the user through a video production system' 14 or another suitable equipment to route videoclips before 1 1 the simultaneous transmissions to the user in real time. Music videos can also be stored to be viewed later, for example, one or several video servers located on racetracks 12, 1 video production system 14, facilities; of television distribution 18, or! Well other suitable applications can be used to store video clips. > The stored videos can then be reproduced in real time or downloaded to be viewed on a user television equipment 22, a computer of i 1 user count 20, or a telephone equipment of 32. Video clips can contain racing videos, comments , interviews with jockeys, or with any other appropriate information related to careers. If desired, videos in real time or stored videos may be provided from 'race tracks 12 directly to the user television equipment 22, user computer equipment 20, or user 32 telephone equipment through I of the Internet or ptras adequate communication channels without involving the video production system 14. Videos can also be provided by routing video signals through equipment located in other sections in the; computer system, for example ^ videos can; be routed through a processing system | I; : transactions and subscription management 24. ' · I The transcription processing and subscription management system 24 may contain computer equipment 26 and other equipment to support such system functions as! for example transaction processing (for example, handling related tasks 'with bets, product acquisition', adjustments of the amount of funds in user accounts based on the results of bets, video clip orders, etc.) , distribution of data (for example, to distribute career data to users), and management of subscribers (for example, features related to opening an account for a user, closing an account, allowing a user to add or withdraw funds of an account, change the user's address or personal identification number, etc.). Databases within the transaction processing and subscription management system 24 or associated with the system 24 can also be used to store racing data, I betting data and other transaction data, and data from I Subscriber such as information regarding the current balance of the user's account, betting history, individual betting limits, personal identification number1, billing addresses, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, security numbers social, etc. The use of these data banks can allow the user to have access to more information. I quickly and allow the central 'administration' of the service 1 > of bets. , > If desired, career videos and other services may be provided using servers and other equipment located in the I transaction processing and subscription management system 24. For example, video clips may be provided to the user upon request. 'You can provide the user with interactive ads. When the user selects a desired advertisement, the transaction processing and subscription management system 24 may offer the user additional information or other services related to the advertisement.

The product ordering services can be increased by employing computer equipment in a transaction processing and subscriber management system 24 to handle orders and to help adjust the user's appropriate amount accordingly. The orders can be delivered using goods delivery facilities 34. The goods delivery facilities 34 can be operated only to deliver goods or they can be associated with independently operated business lines or mail order businesses. Similar facilities can be used to request users to request I services. 1 1 I I Statistical data of races, for example schedule of the 1 races, names of rider; names of racehorses I and number of races associated with each track, handicap information (for example, information about past performances, for example 'number of victories and defeats last year, I etc.), and weather conditions on several tracks can be provided through the career data collection and processing system 28. Some of the data can be collected from the race tracks 12 And some of the data can be be provided by third-party information sources, for example, Axcis Pocket Information. Network, Inc. from Santa Clara, California or other appropriate sources of data. Race data can also be supplied from totalizers 30. The totalizers 30 are the computer systems that can be used to handle bets placed on the racetracks, made in establishments for bets outside the racetracks, bets made using the interactive system for betting 10. The totalizers 30 generate the odds of lying in real time. The totalizers 30 generate these odds based on information about the bets that are being made (for example, based on information about the bets that are being made in races on the racetracks 12). Totes 30 are available from companies such as Amtote International Inc. of Hunt Valley, Maryland. The I totalizers 30 may be associated with individual race tracks 12 or groups of race tracks 12. The totalizers 30 may communicate with each other using a communication protocol known as the Intertote Track System Protocol (ITSP). This allows the '30 totalizers to share betting banks. The '30 totalizers can provide race data including information on the current races at the race tracks 12, the number of races associated with each track of' races, odds of bets for first place, first place or second place and first place, second place or third place and combined totals for each horse or other racehorse, and exact payout predictions, trifecta, and betting and cousined totals for each possible combination of racehorses. Totes 30 can also provide current odds and other real-time race data for other betting tables. The totalizers 30 can provide the time until the start time for each race. (The totalizers 30 can provide race results, for example, the order of arrival list by minus minus for the first three positions and pay values, versus i a standard amount of bet for first, first, or second place and first place second place or third place for each racehorse in the ijlegada list.Payment values can be provided for, complete winning types of bets such as exact, trjifecta, quiniela, selection n (where n is the number of careers involved in the selection bet n), and double daily.The payment values may be accompanied by a summary of the associated arrival list. | i The totalizers 30 may also provide program information of the type typically provided in printed programs. for careers Program information may include mommy and initials, early retreats, career description (including distance from each career and a surface on which the run is made - grass, dirt, artificial grass, etc.) / allowed class evaluations (based on the fixed proportion of external criteria), stock market value (payment to the winning racehorse), rank 'Age allowed for racehorses, and the allowed number of wins and starts for each racehorse. If desired, a portion of the information provided to the transaction processing and subscription management system 24 by totalizers 30 (such as program information or other suitable career data) may be provided through the collection system and data processing ! of careers 28. Similarly, a portion of the information provided to the transaction processing and subscription management system 24 by the collection system, and racing data processing 28 may be provided by the totalizers 30. In addition, the above examples of different suitable types of race data are. simply 1 illustrative. Any suitable data related to careers can be provided to the system; Transaction processing and subscription management 24 is desired. The transaction processing and subscription management system 24 offers career data to users in a user television equipment 22, user computing equipment 20, and user telephone equipment 32 for use in tracking the data. racing results and to develop bets. If desired, career data can be provided to users by using pathways that do not directly involve the transaction processing and management system. of, subscription 24. For example, the 1 career data can be provided from the career data collection and processing system 28 to the user television equipment 22, user computer 20, or telephone equipment of user 32 using the Internet or 'other communication channels! adequate. 1 1 The user telephone equipment 32 may be a conventional telephone 1, a cordless telephone, a cellular telephone or another portable wireless telephone,! or any; ! i another suitable telephone equipment. Users on the user television equipment 22 'and user computing equipment 20 can view the information at. as to the race data 'on one television or another; monitor. The users in the user telephone equipment 32 can 'listen to the career data using an interactive voice system. The user telephone equipment 32 may be based on cell phones with deployments. Users can see career data displayed in such deployment areas. 'Users wishing to place bets can establish an account in the transaction processing and subscription management system 24. An account can also be established in one of the totalizers 30. The user and the interactive betting services can have their own bank accounts in financial institutions 38. A user can electronically establish an account by using a user television set 22, computer equipment, user 20"or user telephone equipment 32 -to interact with subscriber management functions of the transaction processing system and subscription management 24. If desired, accounts can be established in the interactive betting service with the help of customer service representatives in (customer service facilities 36. The service facility at client • i 36 can be found in the same location as the transaction processing and management system. subscription 24; it can be, part of the system 24, or it can be found $ distance of the system 24., It can be entered, in contact by phone with; service representatives a. customers in the customer service facility 36. If the telephone equipment of | user 32 is used to 'have access to the interactive betting service, for example, the user telephone equipment 32 may be' used to contact the customer service representative ^ using the communication way 42. If the user television equipment 22 or user computing equipment 20 is being used with the service, a telephone in the same location as the equipment can be used to contact the customer service representative. The user identity can be reviewed using information. of social security number or other identifying information with the help of the subscriber verification facility 40. Subscriber verification installation services 40 are used to ensure that the user lives in a geographic area where the bets are placed. they are legal, to make sure that the user is of legal age, 1 and to make sure that the identification information '. { for example, j the social security number of the user) corresponds to the name provided by the user.1 If the user is using a cell phone or a portable computing device, the present physical location of the user can be determined by determining the general part of the cellular telephone network to which the user is accessing or by means of > the use of the cellular network or of a location service based on a telephonic apparatus, for example a receiver of a global positioning system (GPS) in the cell phone body to locate the user's location. This location information can be used to verify that the user is in a geographic area where the bets are legal. In a typical registration process, the user offers personal information to the interactive betting service and offers funds through a credit card or funds from the user's bank account. The interactive betting device establishes an account for the user in the transaction processing and subscription management system 24 and instructs one of the totalizers 30 to establish a new account for the user in the totalizer. The totaliser also receives instructions in the sense of accrediting the user's account to reflect the amount of funds provided by the user. After the realization of a bet by the user and gain 0 loss, the totalizer adjusted the user's totalizer amount to reflect the outcome of the bet. The totaliser may periodically inform the interactive betting service of the adjusted balance of the user's account. This can be achieved using any suitable technique (eg, periodically, continuously, request, etc.). For example, reports can be collected periodically (for example, once a day in an end-of-day report) and provided to the interactive betting service to reconcile account balances in the transaction processing and subscription management system 24 with the account balances in the totalizers 30. If the user performs an inquiry of his balance, the inquiry may be based on the appropriate totalizer by the transaction processing and subscription management system 24. If the user is charged a fee for subscribing to the service, the service may charge the fee through the user's account in the transaction processing and subscription management system 24. The accounts in the totalizers 30 and in the transaction processing and subscription management system 24 are typically maintained separately, since the business entities that operate the totalizers 30 and the transaction processing and subscription management system 24 are independent. | SIf desired, financial solutions related to the opening and maintenance of user accounts and the like can be handled using computer equipment in another location, for example, financial institutions 38 or another remote location of the totalizers 30 i system 24 . Such financial functions may also be implemented primarily in a totalizer 30 or 'primarily in the transaction processing and subscription management system 24 if desired. The users in the user television equipment 22, user computing equipment 20, and user telephone equipment 32 can make their bets by providing betting data and interacting in some other way with the transaction processing and subscription management system 24. The interactive betting service can offer a user on one computer, user television 22, user computer equipment 20, or user telephone equipment 32 that has display capabilities, screens containing various data (for example, the user can be presented with screens that allow the user to see the current odds for horses in a future race on a given track.

The service can offer the user interactive screens! which contain menus and selectable options that allow the 'user to select a desired race track and races' - I in which to bet. The user can also specify! the type of bets that interest you, the amount you want to 'bet, and the horse (s) for the bet. When, the user has finished creating the bet, the bet can ' I 'i be subjected to a transaction processing system and: subscription' handling 24 for processing. i The user can make selections during the creation and placement of bets using various arrangements. With an > arranged the electronic book, for example, the user can press dedicated buttons in the electronic book or 'can select on-screen options by touch or by using handwriting recognition. With a cable television box arrangement, for example, the user can use a remote control or wireless keyboard to navigate between the various menus and selectable options. With a personal computer, the user can use a keyboard, a mouse, a tracking ball, a touch-sensitive cushion or another device, suitable for entering information or aiming. With a cell phone with a deployment device, the user can use buttons on the phone. When the user! has made appropriate selections to define a desired bet, the user's television equipment, the user's computer equipment, or the telephone equipment of the jury may transmit wagering data for the bet to the transaction processing and subscription management system 24 Users with telephone can also interact with the service using a response system. interactive voice placed in an I transaction processing and subscription management system 24. The interactive voice response system can present menu options i to the user in the form of audio indications ·. (for example, "press 1 to select a bet amount of $ 2" etc.). The user can interact with 'the service by pressing the corresponding buttons on a touch-sensitive phone. A user telephone equipment 32 based on cell phones allows the user to interact with the betting service in this way. A user-based telephone equipment 32 based on cellular telephones with .message and display reception capabilities also allows the user to interact visually with the interactive betting service. The components of the system 10 may be interconnected using various communication paths 44. The communication paths 44 may include satellite channels, coaxial cable tracks, optical fiber paths, twisted pair paths, other wire ties or well-based links. in cables, wireless routes through the free space, or other suitable ways or combinations of these routes. Communications via vjías 44 may involve analog transmissions, 'digital transmissions', wireless transmissions, microwave transmissions, radio frequency transmissions, optical transmissions, audio transmissions, or any other suitable type of transmissions or combination to such transmissions The communications can include transmissions by Internet, transmissions by private network,. transmissions, packet-based, transmissions through television channels, transmissions in the vertical erase interval of a television channel or in a side-band of television, MPEG transmissions, etc. Communications may involve wireless widgets or other message transmissions. The communication routes 44, may include cable connected to cable modems, subscriber digital lines, digital network lines, integrated services (ISDN), or any other suitable way. Examples of suitable communication channels are described below. These examples, however, are only illustrative. Any of the communication path arrangements described above or any other suitable arrangement may be used, if desired. . 1 The communication channels that carry video and particularly uncompressed analog video or digital video slightly compressed or full-screen generally employ more bandwidth than communications channels, which only carry data or that carry digital video 'partial screen . For example, if it is desired to transmit high-quality simultaneous transmissions of races from racetracks 12 to video playback systems 14 >;, analog or digital videos can be transmitted from racetracks 12 to 'video production' systems 14 via track, 44a using satellite links. The video can be transmitted from the studio 6 to a video production system 14. via the 44b track using a satellite link or a high-speed land route, such as an optical fiber path. Study 16 can also be located in the same place as the video production system 14, thus avoiding the need for a long distance transmission path. Videos can be transmitted from a video production system 14 to the user computing equipment 20 via a 44c via a modem link (using, for example, a digital subscriber line, a telephone network link, a wireless link) , etc.). > The modem link can be made through a private network. A user with a cable modem can connect a personal computer or other user computing equipment to a high frequency section of an associated cable system using the cold 44b. (The high-frequency section I in a fixed J of this type would be one of the television distribution facilities 18 shown in Fig. '1). The user can then receive video from the high frequency section through cable modem, videos can be provided to the high frequency section via channel 44b using a network link, fiber optic links , cable links, microwave links, satellite links, etc. A user with a cable television box or a similar device (shown in Figure 1 as user television equipment 22) can also receive videos from a high frequency section of a cable system using a cable modem or well another communication device of this type in the 44f. In addition, a user with a user television equipment can receive videos through the Internet or a private network using a telephone-based modem or another communication device of this type using the 44g channel. In a system with distributed processing, interactive betting services can be provided using a television distribution facility 18 that includes equipment that complements or replaces at least a portion of the equipment in the transaction processing and subscription management system. .

If desired, the user television equipment 22 or computer equipment of user 20 may receive analog or digital videos from an associated television distribution facility through the communication channels normally used to distribute television programming. (for example, 44f and 44d). For example, videos can be received as part of a television channel of interactive services of dedicated betting. If 'videos are provided as digital signals (for example MPEG signals), ten or more digital videos can be carried on a single analog channel (or a digital video can be carried on a tenth of the bandwidth of an analog channel) . If the videos are not full-screen videos, an even larger number of videos can be simultaneously provided without losing the quality of the image. Race videos can be provided to the user telephone equipment 32 on an Internet link by partially wireless telephone or through another, telephone link using the 44n route. If desired, career data can accompany the racing videos along any of these tracks. In addition, career videos can be provided by direct routing from career tracks 12 to user television equipment 22, user computing equipment 20 (e.g. through the Internet or through a network). private, etc.), or 32 user phone equipment. Career videos can also be provided by routing them through the transaction processing system and by subscription 24. If a cell phone or device Portable computing has enough display capabilities to support moving images, you can spread racing videos. Such videos can be supplied using any suitable way, for example a direct route from the race tracks 12, a track through a video production system 14, or other suitable video processing equipment, through a i center, for example a transaction processing system and subscription management 24, etc. Racing videos can be provided in real time or they can be recorded for later distribution. Videos not provided in real time may be downloaded by the user's television equipment 22, computer equipment of 1 user 20, cell phone, or other suitable user equipment at a data rate lower than what would be required from another form and can be downloaded in the background if desired. Such videos can also be provided to the 1st user at real-time video speeds so that the user can see them directly. Career data and other interactive betting by users through transact processing 24. For example, career data and other data for the service can be provided to the user's computer, 20 via the 44h using a MODEM link. The path 44h i may be a private network path or; an Internet route. The 44h path can use telephone lines, digital subscriber lines, ISDN lines > wireless data lines, or any other suitable type of communication links. The user television equipment 22 may receive data from the betting service via the communications channel 44i, which may be a telephone line., a digital subscriber line, ISDN line, or another suitable type of communication channel and that can use a private network or an Internet route, etc. ', Data for the betting service can be provided to the 1 users of the interactive application, to bet via the communication channel 44j and the routes 44f and 44d. The communication path 44j can be provided, through a private network, using a public telephone network, using satellite links, or any other type of links. Data from such dome track channels 4 j can be routed to tracks such as tracks 4 ^ f and 44d directly through! 1 'associated television distribution facilities 18, or i may well be stored in distribution facilities of! i television 18 if desired. Routes 44f and 44d may include coaxial cable and the usd of channels 44f and 44d may involve the use of modems by cable or similar. If data is provided through the pathway '44j and 44f or via 44d using an Internet protocol, a similar network or program browser that operates on a user television equipment 22 I or user computing equipment 20 may be used to access the data. Said programmatic? It must be integrated in the interactive application to bet or it can be used separately1. The programmatic can also be used to watch videos and can be used on other platforms (for example, advanced cell phones) if desired. The 44k communications paths that are used to connect various other system components typically do not carry high-bandwidth video signals. Accordingly, the tracks 44k may be telephone-type tracks that are part of the Internet network or a private network. Said routes and several other routes can be dedicated connections for reasons of security, rbility, and economy. , · A user telephone equipment 32 can receive information for the 'betting service via the 44m track. If an i 1 user telephone equipment 32 is a standard telephone, (non-cellular), said information may have the form of i '' audio indications ("press 1 to make a bet") and audio care data ("The current viostoria odds for horse 2 are 5-1"). The traffic management and processing data processing system 24 can have an interactive voice response equipment that provides information to the user and responds to tone signals by the user's touch when the user responds to instructions by pressing keys on the keypad. user's phone If the user telephone equipment 32 is a cellular telephone, racing data and other information for the interactive betting service can be provided to the user by utilizing a wireless cellular connection as part of the 44m via. Users with cell phones can be equipped with audio indications using an interactive voice response system located in the transaction processing and subscription management system 24 to which users can respond by pressing cell phone keys to generate tone signals through touch. , i Career data and other 'information for the service' interactive betting can be provided to the phones ! cellular phones in the form of alphanumeric messages.1 Such messages I 't can be transmitted to the user by paging or other alphanumeric message formats or! any other i 1: | Adequate data communications scheme i If desired, Data can be provided to cell phones through the voice channel and, decoded by the phone Cell phone using a modem circuit or another circuit: > 1 adequate. Data will also be provided using other suitable cellular or wireless channels. Independently ! of the way race data and other information are provided. information for the interactive service of bets to the i, cell phone, this information can be provided to the user through its deployment in the display screen! cell phone or presenting this data in an audible way through the cell phone speaker. Career data and other interactive betting service information for users can be provided in one or several streams of continuous data can be provided periodically (for example, once per hour, once a 'day) or it can be provided using a client-server arrangement where data is requested by a client processor (e.g., a television, user 22 equipment, user computer 20 equipment, 1 user telephone equipment 32, or any other device of this type) from a server (for example, a server , implemented using a computer 26 in a transaction processing and subscription management system 24 or computer equipment in another suitable location). Videos can also be provided using any of these techniques.1 A return communication path between the user and the interactive betting service can be used to allow the user to place bets and interact with another! form with the interactive betting service. For example, a user with a standard telephone or cell phone can interact with the service by pressing touch tone keys on the telephone in response to audio prompts provided by an interactive voice response system in a transaction processing system. and subscription management 24. If desired, users can call customer service representatives at the customer service facility 36 and place bets with manual assistance. The user of a cell phone can interact with the 'betting service by selecting options in a menu and interacting in another way with information displayed on a cell phone. When a selection is made, the programmatic implemented in the telephone can be used to help the user to transmit appropriate data (for example, bet data) to the betting service. Such data may be 'transmitted using any suitable technique. For example, data may be transmitted using a wireless data link separate from cellular voice channels. Data can also be transmitted through the voice channel (for example, using a modem integrated in the cell phone, through the automatic generation of tone-by-touch signals that can be recognized by the interactive voice response system in the transaction processing and subscription management system 24, or using any other suitable framework These approaches can be used even if the user receives career data and other information for the service using a platform other than a 'phone-based' platform. Users with user television equipment 22 can interact with the service by sending data (for example, bet data) to a transaction processing and subscription management system 24 using a 44i way, or using tracks 44f and 44j. computer 'of user computation 20 can send data (for example, betting data) to a trans-processing system actions and subscription management 24 through the 44h track or tracks, 444 and 44j. Users on any user equipment can send data for the service to locations other than the transaction processing and subscription management system 24. For example, the user can provide information directly to the customer service installation 36,] et . • i If desired, the user can send data to the service, in, the 'I transaction processing and management system' 1 'I subscribe 24 using different routes of the tracks used to receive data from the processing system Ide transactions and subscription management 24. For example,' data of qare can be received in television equipment of the user 22 through tracks 4 and 44f, while data may be sent by the user from the user's television equipment 22 to the transaction processing system and subscription management 24 using way 44i etc. In addition, the channels used to receive certain video information may be different from the channels used to receive race data. For example, a user television set 22 can receive race videos using track 44f but can receive race data using track 44i. These examples are merely illustrative. Any suitable combination of tracks can be used to distribute racing data and other information for the interactive betting service, any suitable combination of tracks can be used to receive videos, and any suitable combination of tracks can be used to send data to the betting service. If desired, the user can interact with the betting service using more than one platform. For example, the user can make a bet using a cell phone while the user is driving to his home address. When the user arrives at his home, the user can determine the result of the match by watching a video of the race on the user's television equipment. Later in the day, the user can review the balance of the user's account using a personal computer, This is simply an illustrative example. The . Several, and platforms for bets can be used in any 1 suitable combination. ! Although the system 10 has been described in the context of a system that supports multiple betting platforms, the system 10 can support a smaller number of platforms if desired.

The service can offer the user interactive screens containing menus and selection options that allow For example, aspects of the present invention can be implemented using a system 10 that only supports bets from cable television boxes. If desired, the system 10 can be configured in such a way that it does not support bets with telephone or computer equipment. The system can support electronic books, personal computers, cell phones and / or portable computing devices such as personal digital assistants, computers the size of the palm of the hand, etc. in combination with any other suitable platform. In addition, the system features can be applied to any suitable type of interactive television application including video applications! upon request, interactive television program guides, home banking applications, home shopping applications, game applications (for example, multi-player game applications, etc.), applications to browse through Internet, etc. ? The features of the present invention are described here primarily in the context of an interactive betting application implemented in user equipment such as, for example, a cable television box connected to a television. It is only an illustrative example. A .

Interactive betting application implemented on any suitable platform (user computer equipment, user television equipment, user telephone equipment, etc.) can be used to provide these features' if desired. , In arrangements of television boxes by .cable, on-screen options can be expanded in comparison of. what appear in computer-based arrangements in order to take into account the! I i greater distance of vision to which the televisions usually operate. Options to be 'selected by highlighting them using' remote control arrow keys 'and pressing an appropriate key such as an OK key or an enter key or a select key.' In arrangements of 'personal computers, op • cioines on screen can be selected through a tattoo or another device for <; point. In cell phone arrangements! and arrangements of portable computers, options, and information can be deployed using smaller screens that are typically available on personal computers or cable boxes. To fit the smallest screen size, options that may be otherwise presented in a single screen can be displayed using multiple screens, I or menus in ^ layers. Options can be selected by highlighting them using navigation keys and by pressing an appropriate selection button on the cell phone or on the portable computing device or by using a pen-based interface or similar. The interactive application to bet can be implemented using programmatic application that. it works primarily in a user television equipment, user computer equipment, user telephone equipment, or another local platform, either using a remote server or another computer to which one has access from the platform local. Arrangements in which > Interactive betting services are implemented using programmatic in remote computers to which j is available upon request from local platforms can be known as client-! -service arrangements. Such, client-server arrangements can be used to allow The following processes are used in tel- evision boxes: cablé view or other platforms to access server processes that operate on servers located in high-frequency sections of the cable system or other television distribution and distribution facilities. (Figure 1) . Regardless of the type of system architecture or platform being used, the programmatic that supports the interactive betting service features described herein may be known as an interactive, betting application. The programmatic that supports the monitoring of video feed signals and statistics collection features in the field of betting of the present invention in contexts that include interactive bets and other applications (for example, interactive television applications other than interactive applications of television based on betting) can be known as an interactive television application .. In a cable television box environment, the system can allow the user to launch an interactive application for, betting mediating the selection of a menu option in a ' Interactive guide of television programs or other cable TV box application or menu. If desired, the interactive betting application (or other application) can be launched automatically when the user tunes to a particular channel (for example, television channel I for <betting). After the user has tuned this channel, the system can display an interactive icon on the user's TV screen which indicates that the interactive betting application is available. If the user presses a remote control key "OK" the system can launch an application. In a computer-based system, the user can have access to the interactive application to bet by means of browsing a website on the Internet or a site in a private network, or by connecting in a different way to a computer such as for example, computer 26 of the transaction processing and subscription management system 24 (Figure 1) or other suitable computing equipment. Systems based on cell phones or the like can be launched by 'selecting an appropriate option on an on-screen menu presented on the cell phone's display. When launched, the interactive betting application can 'display a main menu as a superimposed overlay video that the > user is currently viewing. As shown in Figure 2f for example, the interactive betting application may display menu regions 46 over 'video 48 in. screen 50. If desired, the interactive application for posting can display menu information such as a wrapped text or graphic region that surrounds a reduced size video store. A video like the video 48 can be displayed in a small window of this type. A menu layout 46 or other suitable menu arrangement can be used to offer the user several selectable options. For example, option 52 can be used to provide the user the opportunity to create an electronic bet. The user may select the result option 54 when the user wishes to see the results of a race or the like. Selections can be made through the use of remote control arrow keys I heard another suitable arrangement to place a highlighted region such as the highlighted region 56 over a desired portion and pressing an OK remote control key or similar.1 Option 58 it can be used to display handicap information such as rider statistics, horse statistics, and information regarding races, and other historical information of this type. Statistical option 60 can be used to access' statistical information in real time regarding the betting activities of system 10 users.

The adjustment option 62 can be used to access ?????? e that allow the user to adjust several parameters such copy, how and when the information specified to the user ^. 1 computer configuration settings, default presentation style, etc. The option of video feed signals 64 can be used to select a desired video feed signal, to view it. The video feed signals may be associated, for example, with different television services for betting or with video coverage of different racetrack tracks or from different perspectives, etc. The user can create a bet by selecting option 42. An illustrative screen 66 that can be presented to the user (for example, in the user equipment display) when the user selects option 42 is shown in Figure 3. The screen 66 and other screens of · betting creation can be provided through the interactive application to bet. Screen 66 and other screens provided by the interactive betting application may 'include a logo 68 for the interactive service provider to bet. The information 70 can be provided to describe the actions that the user should perform on each screen. The user can select a desired race track by placing a highlighted region 74 on a desired race track option 72 on screen 66 using the remote control arrow keys and pressing an OK button or remote control select. 1 When the user has selected a track from which players want to bet, the user can receive a screen i such as screen 84 of Figure 5. Screen 84 can be used to select a type! desired betting for the user's bet. The user can select a bet type by selecting an appropriate bet type option 86 using a highlighted region that can be repositioned 88 and an OK key or the like. When the user has selected a desired type of bet for the bet, the user can not receive a screen such as screen 90. Screen 90 allows the user to select the racehorse or the racehorse for the bet. The user can select horses for the bet by selecting the appropriate options for horses 92 using the highlighted region 94. As indicated by arrow 96, (the user can use remote control keys i or similar to move to additional horse options 92. The user can receive an amount selection screen to bet such as screen 98 of Figure 7 after the user has selected the desired horses for the bet. Figure 7, the 1st user can select the desired amount to bet on the bet from the amount options' to bet 100. The highlighted region 102 can be used to 'make selections of amounts to bet. When the user has selected the amount to bet on? desired, the user may receive a screen 'such as the screen 103 of Figure 8. The screen 103 may include information on the bets that the user has created but has not yet submitted for processing. For example, information 106 may be included in a i 1 bet on the winner that the user has created for a race on the Aqueduct track and the information 108 can be included in a trifecta bet that the user has created for a race on the Gulfstream track. Information 106 and information 108 may include, information on each race track, race, amount bet (eg, by racehorse), type of bet, horse (s), and total amount of the bet (e.g., based on all the selected racehorses) of the bet. When the user is ready to submit the bets in the betting queue to the transaction processing and subscription management system 24 for processing, the user can select the option to send 110 using a highlighted region 112 Can option 114 be selected? when the user 'lets create a bet bet. Option 116 can be selected when the user wants to see! additional information i! for a question highlighted in 'the queue. Option 118 can be used to create a 'double bet' for a highlighted bet in the queue. The user can select the option to delete 120 when the user wants to delete an item that has been highlighted using the highlighted region 112. i The user can see the results of the races for the. which the user has submitted bets by selecting; of option 54 of Figure 2. The user can be provided with the opportunity to select several available video feed signals. For example, the user may be provided with the opportunity to select a desired video feed signal to see among various video feed signals associated with, different betting service providers, associated with different race tracks, or associated with any other appropriate entity. Any suitable arrangement can be used to offer the user the opportunity to select desired video feed signals to view them. ! > 1 For example, if the user selects option 64 of the Figure 1 2, the interactive application to bet 'can I 1 1 present to the user 1 a screen 'such as' I screen 122 of Figure 9. The user can select a I 1 'split jde the signal options of > feeding the video 124 using a highlighted region 126 '. 'Some' of the video feed signal options may correspond to video feed signals associated with a television betting service (i.e., a television channel related to betting where the equipment of the user is a user's television set or a service offered by 'Internet or similar I when | the computer, user is a computer user computer; or a user telephone equipment). For example, the options of video feed signals "TVG Edst" and "TVG West" in the arrangement of Figure 9 may correspond to services of television channels related to bets that include comments, video clips about races, interviews, etc. TVG East may be a more appropriate video feed signal "for a geographic region (eg, the East coast) and TVG West may be a more appropriate video feed signal for another geographic region (eg, the West Coast Video feed signals such as TVG East and TVG West can be produced, for example, in video production systems such as the video production system 14 of Figure 1. Options for video feed signals such as as the "Churchill Downs" option may correspond to video feed signals that are linked to particular tracks, such power signals may be produced in a video production system 1, for example, video production system 14. Figure 1 or video production system located on a particular racetrack or associated with a particular racetrack.These are merely illustrative examples. Video feed signals can be generated in any suitable installation. In addition, video feed signals may be associated with any suitable entity 'such as, for example, a betting service provider, a race track, a news service, etc. In interactive television arrangements that do not involve bets such as general video arrangements on demand or pay per event or the like, the user may have opportunities to select between different available video feed signals to select, for example, between different camera angles at a sporting event, to watch movies that start at slightly different start times, to watch TV broadcast content, etc. As shown in Figur, at 9, when a user selects a given video feed signal option from screen 122, the interactive betting application can tune in (automatically the desired video feed signal and signal The desired video feed can be displayed on the screen 12, 8. Another way how the user can select between available video feed signals is through an interactive guide of television programs or the like. navigational envelope or other suitable application (eg, an interactive television program application guide or other interactive television application or operating system, etc.) can be used to display a menu screen such as the screen 130 of Figure 10. Screen 130 may include a superimposed region 132 or another suitable relay that includes menu options. Menu item 134 can be used to access an interactive guide of television programs. Option 136 can be used to access functions of 5 purchases at doitücilio. Option 138 can be used to obtain access to video on demand services. Option 140 can be used to access the interactive application to bet. The menu options shown in the arrangement of Figure 10 are simply illustrative. Any suitable interactive application can be accessed using that menu structure if desired. I If the user selects a program list option '134, an interactive guide of television programs can be invoked. The screen as for example the screen 142 of I Figure 11. can be displayed to the user through I 'the interactive guide of television programs when the program guide is invoked first. Other functions of program guides (functions related to the establishment of reminders, 'program recording, pay-per-view movie orders, search for program listings by category, etd.) Can be accessed through the use of dedicated control keys remote or through 1 interaction with menu options displayed on the user equipment. 'Screen 142 may contain a list box of i ! I programs 144 or another suitable list or appropriate display of program lists 146. The user can select a desired program list using a highlighted region 148. If the user selects a list of programs such as the program list for the program 6 on the "TVG East" channel, the user's equipment can be automatically tuned to the video for the TVG East video feed signal as shown on screen 150 in the lower half of Figure 11., Regardless of the way how the user can have access to the video feed signal, the video feed signals can be distributed to the user through a distribution facility as for example television installation and distribution 18 of Figure 1 or I or another installation and proper distribution (for example, from a server in the production system 14 | of Figure 1). '' As shown in FIG. 12, the video grating signals 152 can be grouped in a distribution facility 154 from multiple video production systems 156. For example, different video production systems such as video systems can be used to display video signals. of Figure 1 can each transmit a digital television power signal to an installation such as installation 154 through a satellite link or the like. The power signals may also be provided to facilities 154 from racing tracks or other video sources of this type. The power signals may be multiplexed in the distribution facility 154 and distributed to the user equipment 160 of multiple users a, via communication paths 158 as shown in Figure 12. Communication paths 158 may include fiber optic routes , satellite channels, or other wireless routes, via cable, via telephone lines 'or' well any other appropriate communication routes. For example, communication channels 158 can be channels that connect an I: television distribution installation such as • a high frequency section of the user equipment such as cable. As shown in Figure 13, a distribution facility 154 may include an i power distribution device 162 for controlling the distribution of video feed signals to the user equipment 160.

The video feed signals may be, for example, video streams in accordance with MPEG-2 or other digital video streams distributed by MPEG-based distribution equipment. The distribution equipment 162 may distribute all of the video feed signals 152 provided to the distribution facility 154 or may distribute a subset of such power signals (eg, some or none of such power signals). If desired, only the power signals which are popular or which can be easily supported by the available bandwidth of the system (for example, which can be transmitted through tracks 158 without causing congestion or saturation of the system) can be transmitted to users through the team of User 160. The bandwidth that would be used to support this video feedback signal may therefore be available for other signals, for video feed or for increasing the amount or! quality of the video information provided to the user in other video feed signals. i The decision as to which video feed signals should be distributed can be made based on any suitable bandwidth allocation criteria, including minimum service guarantees, user demand, current bandwidth resources, etc. >; Illustrative steps involved in monitoring the demand for various power signals and for supplying signals. Feeding to users are shown in Figure 14. ' In step 1.64, the demand 'for power signals 152, (Figure 13) can be monitored by the system. For example, distribution facilities 154 may investigate on user equipment 1 60 to determine the video feed signals currently seen by users or> which will likely be seen in sub-step 1 66. In T sub-step 168, commands Changing the channel of the user's equipment 1 60 can be monitored by the installation of distribution j 154. For example, signals are provided from the video feed to users using an array of ; I I client-service in response to command of 'change of channels transmitted to a server in the installation, distribution1 154 or similar, the server application in the installation of] distribution 54 can determine which power signals? of video are being viewed through the monitoring of the > video feed signals that have been requested by sending channel change commands from the user equipment. In sub-step 17 0, the payment orders by. Multi-user event can be monitored. This allows the distribution facility to measure the demand of users by different video feed signals based on the video feed signals that users have requested using, for example, a pay-per-view function. Interactive program guide event, a race video order feature of an interactive betting application, etc. Sub-step 172 includes the monitoring of user interactions with an interactive television application such as an interactive guide of, television programs, an application of .video on request, an interactive application, to bet, 1 etc. These interactions may be indications of the user's interest in certain signals: video feed. By For example, such interactions may indicate when a user has selected to establish a future record for a video feed signal, or when the user has Requested a video feed signal on request. Substeps 166, 168, 170 and 172 are simply illustve. Any suitable technique can be used to monitor the demand for power signals from I; video in the system 10. In addition, such sub-stages can be 'used regardless of whether the application of Interactive television that is supplying the video feed signals or facilitating the delivery of such power signals is an interactive application to bet, an interactive television program guide, or any other suitable application, function of openg system, etc. In step 174, the distribution facility 164 (Figure 13) can use a piece of equipment. distribution of power signals 162 or other suitable equipment to handle the distribution of video power signals to the user equipment 160 based on the demand information for video power signals that was gened in step 16 For example, if it is determined in step 1641 that no user or a relatively low number of users are viewing or otherwise using a given video feed signal, the distribution equipment of; Power signals 162 may not include this video feed signal in the video feed signals distributed to users through the ^ 158 s. This frees bandwidth in the tracks 158 which otherwise would not be available . The released bandwidth can be used to support higher data s for the remaining power signals, can; used to support other power signals, it can be used to reduce the bandwidth requirements for tracks 158, etc.

In step 176, the user can be informed when certain power signals are not available. For example, if a power signal is no longer available due to low demand, an indication in this sense can be displayed for the user in the interactive application to bet, the interactive guide of television programs, or another interactive application. of adequate television. If desired, the power signal can be left at the bottom in such a way that users never have to know that certain power signals are not available. II If power signals are not available and if you want to inform the users of their unavailability or if you wish to remove them from the offers of the video feed signals, you will present the user with the program schedule information that will be displayed. Use it to display the lists' in box 144 of Fig. 11 in the options of feed signals of tjideo 124 of! Figure 9 can be updated. The information of program liistas can! I 1 stored locally in the user equipment or bxen can be stored in, urj. remote server or similar. If the program list information is stored and stored locally, the update of step 176 may include the transmission of new program list information to the user equipment (for example, through 'communications channels 158 or Similar) . Step 176 may: include information from the interactive television viewing application (e.g., interactive betting application, interactive television program guide, etc.) of the change in the series of video feed signals currently available through of other suitable mechanisms (for example, using communication techniques or data transmission between distribution facility 15 'and the application that does not require the updating of program list information). The information regarding the electronic betting activities of users can be collected through system 10 in real time. This! Information may be provided to users to promote betting services or may be used by television producers or other entities for their use in the plantation and the administration of television coverage. An illustrative screen 178 that includes information I j 1 statistics in real time in terms of user betting activities that can be presented to users in user equipments is shown in 'figure 15. The screen 178 may include information regarding the activities of I electronic bets from users who are placing bets on it; transaction processing system and subscription management 24. For example, information 184 may be supplied with b, ase in the total amount of dollars bet. The information 186 can be provided as to the total number of bets placed. The information 188 i; It can be included in the most popular type of bets. The information 190 may also be included in the most common amount that is being wagered. These types of statistical information on betting are simply illustrative. Any suitable statistic regarding betting can be provided to the user or to any other entity if desired. On screen 178 shown in Figure 15, the statistical information that is displayed refers to aggregate data for multiple racetracks (for example, I all the race tracks that. receive system service I 1 10). An option 180 can be provided that allows , I users see the statistical information for other combinations of race tracks similar. How I know 1 'I indicates! Through the arrows 182, the User can use I i I arrow keys of remote control of left and right to select which combination of tracks 1 of races or other criteria are used in the presentation of the statistical information. For example, the user can use the I arrow keys left and right > to select a particular race track or tote for which the user wants to see statistical information of the bet in real time.

Screens such as the screen 178 can be presented to the user through the interactive application to bet or through any other suitable application.

If the user wishes to compare the statistical information associated with multiple tracks, the user can select option 192. An illustrative screen 194 that can be displayed by the user, on the user equipment when the user selects option 192 of FIG. 15 shown in Figure 16. Screen 194 can be displayed by the interactive betting application or other suitable application. Screen 194 may contain information 196, for example graphic information (for example, bar graphs, pie charts, tables, etc.) that compares statistical information in real time on multi-track bets. For example, information regarding the number of bets placed on a particular day in each track can be displayed. This allows the user to see I if it exists, currently one | particularly popular track. If I want, 1 statistics on real-time bets such as the number of bets placed on each track or other appropriate statistical information may include information on bets made using equipment on the site (for example, bets placed in person on the courts of races or similar). If the user is interested in viewing additional statistical information on bets, the user can select option 200 using a highlighted region 198. If the user wishes to return to watch television or to perform other activities, the user can select the option to exit 202 using l, to highlighted region 198. The user can be presented with alerts based on I statistics, of bets in real time. The user can for example establish certain alert criteria. When the alert criteria are met, an alert message can be automatically presented to the user. An illustrative display 204 containing an alert message 206 is shown in FIG. 17. In the illustrative example 10 of FIG. 17, an alert message 206 is displayed in an overlay on video 208 for a television program that the user is currently viewing i. This is simply illustrative. Alert messages can be provided to the user using I, 15 any suitable technique. 1 Messages from the alert can be used to alert the user of >; the occurrence of any suitable event related to bon statistics in real time. For example, an alert, for example, alert 26 may be used to inform the user when the current betting group on a particular track has exceeded a user-defined threshold, as shown in FIG. 17. This is simply an illustrative criterion. Any suitable statistic of 'real time' bets can be used as a warning criterion, if desired.

The statistics on real-time bets can be presented to the user in graphic form as shown in figures 15 and 16, can be used to present alerts, the user as shown in figure 18, can be used by television producers and Similar (for example, to measure the type of coverage to be dedicated to a particular track, etc.), they can be used in bandwidth allocation between different video feed signals, or they can be used for any other, appropriate purpose. > 'Illustrative steps involved in the collection and > The use of statistical data in 'real time' on bets are shown in Figure 18. In step \ 210, system 10 can collect statistical information about | bets on the betting activities of the bettors. The information can be collected ep time. real. Information on bets placed with the transaction processing and subscription management 'system' 28 can be compiled using a computer 26. The. , information on bets placed on tracks can be 'compiled using 30 totalizers or other equipment! associated with racetracks. Information on bets placed through betting facilities outside the 'tracks or the like may also be handled using' totalizers 30 or other suitable equipment. If you want, real-time data can be collected by doing surveys on the user equipment. For example, survey messages may be sent to the user's cable television box or to another computer to determine the bets that have been placed from this location. The statistical information of bets in real time can include the collection of information on what is bet, where the 'bets, combined J quaies, etc. are made. (In step 212, users are authorized to interactively access statistical information.) For example, the interactive application for betting or another suitable application may provide the user with selectable on-screen options on the user equipment that they allow the user to selectively view desired real-time statistical information I In step 214, the user can be provided with alerts based on the statistical information on betting.The user can establish 'criteria for such i alerts by interacting with i Appropriate adjustment options These options can be provided to the user through the interactive betting application or other suitable application, for example, the user can be provided with adjustment options that include the adjustment of statistical alert criteria. bets in real time when the user selects an option, for example the option No adjustment 62 of Figure 2. In step 216, the statistical information in real time regarding the betting activities of the bettors can be provided to television producers or other suitable eies. Television producers can be associated, for example with systems. of video production such as the video production system 14 of figure 1 or studies like study 16. In system 14 (or 'study 16), the real-time data can be used to determine which pistols or races should be covered during the television broadcast related to betting (for example, for a television channel service 'for, i bet or similar). Yes < a lot of betting activity includes a; | Caiballo particula; r, coverage: from ''! 1 television should be focused on that horse. 'Viewers who see the content provided by the system 14 can be informed of, the statistics in real time (for example, using verbal comments on the content, using graphics, etc.). In step 218, the system 10 can allocate bandwidth based on statistical information in real time on the subject of bets. For example, if it is determined that a particular race or particular track is not attracting much atten, a power signal distribution equipment 162 (FIG. 13) may leave the video feed signal ^ that includes the coverage of this race or; of this racing track in such a way that i the bandwidth otherwise used by this signal, video power can be used in another way (for example, for other video feed signals). If desired, the allocation of bandwidth for video feed signals may be based on information ii 'real-time statistics on betting activities, of bettors (including home users, wagers outside the market). as tracks in facilities for betting off 'the tracks and bettors, on the race tracks) and the I 'demand characteristics for power signals, of video described in relation to figure 14. Even when! The present invention is described primarily ; In the context of real-time video feed and statistics signals for wagering applications, the present invention can be used for any suitable interactive application. For example, ! 1 characteristics of the present invention. l can be used to manage the distribution of video feed signals and gather statistical information that includes 'the i, i content and features of interactive television applications such as interactive program guides' of television interactive video on demand applications, interactive purchases at home or banking applications, etc. The foregoing is merely illustrative * of the principles of this invention and those skilled in the art can make various modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS A method to manage the distribution of video feed signals to users in user equipment from a distribution facility, which includes: 'Monitor the demand of} users for each of the multiple video feed signals; and Managing the distribution of the multiple video feed signals to the user equipment from the distribution facility based on the monitored demand, where at least one of the video feed signals is not distributed to the user equipment. when the demand associated with the video feed signal is below a predetermined level. I I The method defined in claim 1, further comprising surveying the user equipment to collect information on the demand of the users. , The method defined in claim 1, further comprising surveying the user equipment from the distribution facility to collect information regarding the demand of the users. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising determining the demand of the users through the monitoring of channel change commands. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the determination of user demand through the monitoring of channel change commands in the distribution facility. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the determination of the demand of the users through the monitoring of requests for payment by event. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising the determination of the demand of the users by means of the 'monitoring of requests for payment by event in the distribution installation. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising determining the demand of the users by monitoring the user interactions I with an interactive television application. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising the demand / termination of users | i by monitoring the user interactions with an interactive television application in the distribution facility. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising determining the user's demand by monitoring user interactions with an interactive betting application. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising determining the demand of the users by monitoring the interactions of, the users with an interactive application to bet, in the distribution facility. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising leaving video feed signals _ based on user demand. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the use of distribution equipment > of power signals in the distribution facility to handle the distribution of video feed signals to users. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising informing users when video feed signals are not available. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising updating the schedule information! of programs to reflect what the available video feed signals are. The method defined in claim 1, which also comprises displaying screen options on the device < of user that reflect the video feed signals that are available. The method defined in claim 1, comprising I also inform an interactive TV application when some of the video feed signals are not available due to the demand of the users. 18. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising informing an application, inviting to bet when some of the video feed signals are not available due to the demand of the; i users. . { 19. The method defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the video signaling signals includes a television channel for betting. , I 1 20. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising:! ! allow the user to make entries from the user equipment using an interactive application to bet; and provide a television channel to bet on at least one of the video feed signals. i · ' 21. The method defined in claim 1, wherein at least two of the video feed signals i are related to bets. ,, 22. The method defined in claim 1, wherein at least some of the video power signals correspond to video power signals associated with particular race tracks. 23. The method defined in claim 1, wherein at least two of the video feed signals carry television channels on horse races. 24. The method defined in the claim, which also includes the collection of statistical information in real time regarding 'bets placed by users. . 25. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising: i i gathering statistical information in real time on bets placed by users; and | 1 use the information! statistic in real time to handle the distribution of the video feed signals. 26. The method defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the video feed signals is: I includes information about a horse race. , I 27. The method defined in the; claim 1, further comprising the use i of the user equipment to provide a given user with the opportunity to make an electronic bet. 28. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the user equipment includes a cable television box, the method further comprising the use of the cable television box to provide at least one of the users with a cable television box. opportunity to create and make an electronic bet. 29. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the user's equipment includes a cellular telephone, the method further comprising the use of the cellular telephone to offer at least one of the users the opportunity to create and make an electronic bet. 30. The method defined in claim 1; wherein the computer equipment includes a portable computer, the method further comprises the use of the portable computer, to provide at least one of the users with the opportunity to create and make an electronic bet 31. The method defined in FIG. Claim 1, wherein the user equipment includes a personal computer, the method further comprises the use of the personal computer to provide at least one user with the opportunity to create and perform a electronic bet 32. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the user equipment includes user television equipment, the method further comprising the use of the user television equipment to provide at least one of the users with the opportunity to create and make an electronic bet. 33. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising sending an electronic bet to a transaction processing system and managing subscription via a communication path connected to the user equipment. 34. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the collection of [statistical information in real time as to the betting activities of bettors on racetracks and the 'use of statistical information in the handling of the distribution. of the video feed signals. 35. An interactive betting system comprising an installation | distribution that distributes several video feed signals to users in a user equipment, where the distribution installation is configured to: monitor the users' demand for each of the multiple video feed signals; and Manear the distribution of 'the multiple signals of feeding, of video to the equipment of user - from the installation of distribution with base in' the monitored demand, in where by. less one of the video feed signals is not distributed to the user equipment when the demand asopied with this video feed signal is below a predetermined level. ,. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the distribution facility is further configured to conduct surveys on user equipment to gather information on the demand of the users. . The system defined in claim 35, wherein the 1 user equipment includes a cable television box and wherein the distribution facility is . also configured to carry out surveys in the television box by cable to collect information regarding the demand of the users. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the distribution facility is further configured to determine user demand by monitoring the channel change commands. . The system defined in claim 35, wherein the I! distribution facility is also configured for . determine the demand of loá users by monitoring 'the commands' of channel change provided to the installation, distribution from the user equipment through a communication channel. · 40. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the distribution facility is further configured to determine user demand by monitoring pay-per-event orders. 41. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the distribution facility is further configured to determine user demand by monitoring the 'pay-per-event requests received at the distribution facility 42. The system defined in the claim 35, wherein the user equipment is configured to monitor the user's interactions with an interactive television application to determine user demand for each of the yideo feed signals. 1 43. The system defined in claim 35, wherein , the distribution installation is also configured to determine the users' demand by monitoring the interactions of the users with an interactive television application. 44. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the user equipment is configured to monitor the interactions of the users with an interactive application for 1 bet in order to determine the user demand for each of the signals of I 80 video feed The system defined in claim 35, wherein the 'distribution facility is further configured to determine user demand by monitoring the interactions of the users with an interactive application to bet. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the distribution facility is further configured I to leave video feed signals based on user demand. The system defined in claim 35, wherein I the Distribution Facility includes a team of , J dis' distribution of power signals that was used, to handle the distribution of the signals of I feed video to the users. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the distribution facility is further configured to infrogate users when video feed signals are not available. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the distribution facility is further configured to update a schedule schedule information to reflect the video feed signals that are available. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the user equipment is configured to display on-screen options that reflect the video feed signals that are available. 51. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the user equipment is configured to 'use an interactive program guide to display updated information for the video feed signals. 52. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the distribution facility is configured to inform an interactive betting application implemented by the use of user equipment when some of the video feed signals are not available due to the user demand. I 53. The system defined in claim 35, wherein at least one of the video feed signals includes a television channel for betting. 54. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the user equipment is configured to allow users to place bets from the user equipment using an interactive betting application and wherein the distribution facility is configured to provide a TV channel to bet on at least one is video feed signals. '| 55. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the distribution facility is further configured to provide at least video feed signals related to bets as at least two of the video feed signals. 56. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the distribution facility is further configured to provide video feed signals associated with particular race tracks. 57. The system defined in claim 3, wherein the distribution facility is further configured to provide at least two of the video feed signals that carry television channels and horse races. I 58. The system defined in claim 3; 5, wherein; The distribution facility is also configured to collect in real time statistical information on bets placed by users. 59. The system defined in claim 3.5, wherein the distribution facility is further configured to: i collect in real time statistical information on bets placed by users; , use statistical information in real time to manage the distribution of video feed signals. 60. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the distribution facility is further configured to provide at least one video feed signal that includes information on horse races. , 61. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the user equipment of a given user is configured . To provide the user, given the opportunity to place an electronic bet '. '62. The system' defined in claim 35, 'wherein; I the user's equipment includes a cable television box that is configured to provide at '1' 'minus one of the users the opportunity to create and i; : place an electronic deposit !. I 63. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the equipment of? user includes a phone, cell phone configured to provide at least one of the users the opportunity to create and place an electronic bet. - 64. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the user equipment includes a portable computer configured to provide to at least one of the users the opportunity to create and place an electronic bet. ¡I 65. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the user equipment includes a personal computer configured to provide at least one of the users the opportunity to create and place an electronic bet. 1 66. The system defined in claim 35, e, n wherein the user equipment includes a user television set configured to provide to at least one of the users, the opportunity to create and place an electronic bet. 67. The system defined in claim 3, 5, which further comprises a processing system for ! 1 transactions and subscription management configured to receive electronic bets from the user equipment through a communication channel connected to the ! I 'user group. '' 68. The system defined in claim 35, wherein the distribution facility 'is further configured' for: | , i collect in real time statistical information about the betting activities of bettors 1 on the race tracks; and i use the statistical information in the handling of the distribution of video feed signals. 69. A method for using statistical information in real time on bets in relation to betting activities of bettors, which includes: collecting statistical information on betting activities of bettors in real time; display statistical information to users on user equipment in real time; and, display options on the screen in the user equipment in order to allow the user to interact with the statistical information in real time. 70. The method defined in claim 69, wherein the statistical information includes' information on the total dollar amount of the bets placed by the bettors. 1 ,; 71. The method defined in claim 69, wherein the! I statistical information ineliuye information, I comparison multiple race tracks. 72. The method defined in claim 69, further comprising the display of an on-screen option on the user's equipment that allows the user to request additional statistical information on bets. 73. The method defined in claim 69, further comprising allowing the user to use the user equipment to set alert criteria to provide alerts to the user based on the statistical information on bets. 74. The method defined, in claim 69, which further comprises the display of alerts to the user with I based on the statistical information of bets. 75. The method defined in claim 69, further comprising the provision of statistical information to a television producer. 76. The method defined in claim 69, further comprising the provision of statistical information to a television producer in real time. 77. The method defined in claim 69, further comprising the provision of statistical information to a television producer in a video production system! in real time. I 78. The method defined | in claim 69 that I further comprises: "supplying video feed signals to the user equipment; and 'assign bandwidth of video feed signals, based on statistical information. 79. A system comprising a distribution facility for distributing television programming to users on user equipment, wherein the distribution facility and the user equipment are configured to:. > collect statistical information regarding the betting activities of bettors in real time; display statistical information to users on the user equipment in real time; and 5 display options on the screen in the user equipment that allow the user to interact with the statistical information in real time. 80. The system defined in claim 79, wherein the statistical information includes information on the total dollar amount of the bets placed by the bettors. 81. The system defined in claim 79, wherein 1 the statistical information includes information of 'comparison for multiple race tracks. .15 82. The system defined in claim 79, wherein the user horse is configured to display an on-screen option on the user equipment that allows the user to request additional statistical information on bets. 83. The system defined in claim 79, wherein the user horse is configured to allow the user to use the user equipment to set alert criteria to provide alerts to the user based on the statistical information on bets. 84. The system defined in claim 79, wherein the user equipment is configured to display alerts to the user based on statistical information regarding betting. The system defined in claim 79, wherein the distribution facility is further configured to provide the statistical information to a television producer. The system defined in claim 79, wherein the distribution facility is further configured to provide the statistical information to a television producer in real time. The system defined in claim 79, wherein the distribution facility is configured, in addition to providing statistical information to a television producer in a real-time video production system. The system defined in claim 79, wherein the distribution facility is further configured to provide video feed signals to the user equipment; Y ! assign bandwidth of video feed with base i in the statistical information. The system defined in claim 79, wherein the user guide is further configured to provide the user with an interactive guide of television programs. The system defined in claim 79, wherein the user guide is further configured to provide the user with information on available video feed signals using an interactive betting application.