IP Verse

Method Of And System For Conducting Multiple Contests Of Skill With A Single Performance

Patent No. US11338189 (titled "Method Of And System For Conducting Multiple Contests Of Skill With A Single Performance") was filed by Winview Ip Holdings Llc on Sep 17, 2020.

What is this patent about?

’189 is related to the field of distributed gaming, specifically enhancing user engagement in games of skill and chance. Traditionally, participants could only compete in one type of contest at a time (e.g., open, head-to-head, or team-based). The patent addresses the problem of limited user engagement by enabling simultaneous participation in multiple contests based on a single performance.

The underlying idea behind ’189 is to allow a user to leverage a single set of predictions or selections in a game of skill or chance across multiple, distinct competitions. Instead of being limited to one contest format, a player can simultaneously participate in an open competition, a private group with friends, and a team competition, all based on the same input. This is achieved by separately scoring the user's performance within each competition's specific rules and participant pool.

The claims of ’189 focus on a server device, a client device, and a method for conducting multiple contests of skill or chance simultaneously. The server receives user input, including event selections and the contests to which they apply. It then stores results and standings for each contest separately. The client device receives a list of contests, allows the user to join them, and transmits a single set of event selections to the server. The server then transmits the separate standings to each client device in real time.

In practice, a user logs into a gaming network and is presented with a list of available competitions, both system-generated (e.g., skill-based) and user-generated (e.g., friend groups). The user selects the competitions they want to join and then makes their predictions or selections for the event (e.g., a football game). The system then applies these selections to each competition , calculating the user's score and ranking within each group. The user receives real-time updates on their standings in each competition, allowing them to track their progress and adjust their strategy.

’189 differentiates itself from prior approaches by enabling true simultaneous participation in multiple contests with a single performance. Previous systems might have allowed for skill-based grouping within a single contest, but they did not offer the flexibility of competing in completely separate contests with different rules and participant pools. The system also facilitates the creation of user-generated groups, allowing players to easily organize competitions with friends or other communities. This increases user engagement and provides more opportunities for enjoyment and rewards.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the mid-2000s when ’960 was filed, mobile devices were increasingly common at a time when client-server architectures were typically implemented using web-based technologies. At that time, systems commonly relied on relational databases for data storage and retrieval, and network bandwidth constraints made real-time data updates non-trivial for applications involving a large number of users.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The application was rejected. Claims were rejected for nonstatutory obviousness-type double patenting. The examiner indicated that claims would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the double patenting rejections.

Claims

This patent contains 38 claims, with independent claims 1, 14, and 24. The independent claims focus on a server device, a user device, and a method for conducting and participating in simultaneous, multiple contests of skill or chance related to one or more events. The dependent claims generally elaborate on the features, events, and functionalities described in the independent claims.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
Competitive groups
(Claim 1)		“User generated competition groups and system generated competition groups allow users to participate in multiple competitions at once based on answering the same questions or making the same selections related to a single event. For each of these competitions, there are two ways the group of attendees are able to be formed: A) organized by the service provider and/or a commercial sponsor or B) organized by the users themselves.”Groups of users formed to compete against each other in contests of skill. These groups can be generated by the service provider or by the users themselves.
Event selections
(Claim 1, Claim 14, Claim 24)		“After joining the desired groups, the users then make their selections related to the event which are transmitted to the network where results are tabulated and transmitted back to the users. The results are separated for each competition group, so that users continually know where they stand in each separate competition. With multiple competition groups, users are able to have varying success from the same performance in multiple competitions.”User input related to one or more events, such as a television-based sporting event, an entertainment show, a game show, a reality show, a news show, or a commercial contained in a broadcast. These selections are applied to multiple contests simultaneously.
Multiple contests of skill
(Claim 1, Claim 14, Claim 24)		“A method of and system for conducting multiple competitions of skill for a single performance are described herein. User generated competition groups and system generated competition groups allow users to participate in multiple competitions at once based on answering the same questions or making the same selections related to a single event.”A plurality of competitions where participants' relative skill, experience, and practice determine the winners. These contests are based on answering questions or making selections related to a single event.
Separate standings
(Claim 1, Claim 24)		“The results are separated for each competition group, so that users continually know where they stand in each separate competition. With multiple competition groups, users are able to have varying success from the same performance in multiple competitions. During an event, scores and rankings are sent to members of the various groups.”Rankings and results that are calculated and displayed independently for each of the multiple contests of skill in which a user is participating.
Single entry contests
(Claim 1, Claim 14, Claim 24)		“The present invention is a system and method allowing participants to simultaneously compete in multiple contests based on a single performance. For example, a user is able to participate in an open contest, compete in a team competition, and also compete against a small group of friends all utilizing a score achieved in the same event.”A contest where a user can only enter once.

Litigation Cases New

US Latest litigation cases involving this patent.

Case NumberFiling DateTitle
3:25-cv-01146Feb 10, 2025Winview Ip Holdings, Llc V. Fanduel, Inc.
3:25-cv-01143Feb 10, 2025Winview Ip Holdings, Llc V. Draftkings Inc.

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US11338189

WINVIEW IP HOLDINGS LLC
Application Number
US17024330
Filing Date
Sep 17, 2020
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
Jan 10, 2027
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents