U.S. patent application number 11/882973 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-14 for interactive system.
This patent application is currently assigned to iTV ENTERTAINMENT LLC. Invention is credited to Timothy O. Bergloff, Patrick J. Hughes, William W. Junkin.
Application Number | 20080039210 11/882973 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39051479 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080039210 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Junkin; William W. ; et
al. |
February 14, 2008 |
Interactive system
Abstract
An interactive video platform device which is configured to
aggregate any type of content received from one or more sources
into a common format, and distributes the aggregate content to a
network for interactive communication among one or more remote
video devices. The platform has particular applicability to
on-line, interactive contest management.
Inventors: |
Junkin; William W.; (Corona
del Mar, CA) ; Hughes; Patrick J.; (Vienna, VA)
; Bergloff; Timothy O.; (Herndon, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCDERMOTT WILL & EMERY LLP
600 13TH STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005-3096
US
|
Assignee: |
iTV ENTERTAINMENT LLC
|
Family ID: |
39051479 |
Appl. No.: |
11/882973 |
Filed: |
August 8, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60836682 |
Aug 10, 2006 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 13/61 20140902;
A63F 2300/572 20130101; A63F 13/79 20140902; A63F 2300/5506
20130101; A63F 2300/5546 20130101; A63F 13/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/42 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. An interactive video device platform for real time, on-line,
contest service, adapted for coupling on one or more networks to
contest providers, the platform comprising: an input translator for
receiving one or a plurality of simultaneous sessions received from
the one or more networks, and aggregating the sessions into a
common format; a database storing real time contest information and
information for developing a user profile for correlation with
sponsorship or advertisement data; a correlation engine coupled to
the database for correlating said one or more sessions with the
sponsorship or advertisement data to be associated with users; and
a provisioning engine coupled to the database for aggregating
content for a session and converting the aggregated content to a
prescribed format for delivery over one or more prescribed
communication network protocols to the users.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/836,682 filed
on Aug. 10, 2006, entitled "Interactive System," which is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to an interactive video
device platform, more particularly to a platform that can aggregate
any type of content received from one or a plurality of sources
into a standardized format and distribute this aggregated content
to a network for interactive communication among one or more remote
video devices.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The popularity of interactive contests such as, for example,
fantasy sports contests, has brought about great interest in
obtaining current information on a real time basis. In fantasy
sports contests, a contestant selects real athletes as team members
based on recent performance and/or anticipated performance of these
athletes as the participate in games, tournaments, contests, etc.
The future performances of the selected players determines the
contestant's score, in accordance with an algorithm based on preset
performance criteria, i.e., a selected scoring system. A contestant
can attempt to upgrade the makeup of the "fantasy team" or lineup
by replacing one or more poorly performing players with other
available players.
[0004] To be successful, it is incumbent upon a contestant to be
able to access current information, not only about the players
representing the current makeup of the team but also other players
who may be available for selection or as trade objectives.
Information beneficial for these purposes may include, but is not
limited to, players' individual performances, players' reported or
actual physical condition, the performance and schedule of the
teams of which the players are members, locations where games are
held, weather forecasts, and/or any other information that
contestants may find important. Contestants, of course, also want
to know their current score and scores of other contestants.
[0005] Various sports Internet sites and news networks are
available as information sources as well as the leagues themselves,
individual team's websites, broadcast or print news services,
Internet services, weather services, and, in some instances,
fantasy sports providers. Information may be available via any
number of sources, including but not limited to broadcast and
telecast, the Internet, or by conventional newspaper/magazine
text.
[0006] With the expansion of the capability of video devices to
interact via media such as cable, satellite, telephone and mobile
networks, Internet and other wireless providers, the need exists
for an interactive video device platform that can receive
informational content received in different source formats and
convert the information into a compatible format to be distributed
to any interactive device, such as may be included, for example, in
video systems. Provision of such content, whether on a real-time or
delayed basis, with the ability to correlate the content with other
information, would be of substantial benefit for interactive
communication among remote devices. Additionally, it would provide
the opportunity for an individual users to access the information
of their choosing on any interactive devices of their choosing.
SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE
[0007] The present disclosure fulfills the needs described above.
An interactive system allows for content, such as statistical data,
video data or other data, to be received by one or more suppliers
and then aggregated into a standardized format. The aggregated
content can be repackaged and redistributed to any interactive
devices. Any available communication media may be accommodated for
interactive video communication among users. The redistributed
content can be individualized for each receiving device such as,
for example, information relevant to a contestant of a fantasy
sports contest using, for example, a PC a PDA or mobile phone. The
contestant may interactively communicate with either the database
of available information or one or more of the other contestants
using a standardized interactive video device platform of the
system. The redistributed content may also include both real time
information, such as current scores or video replays, as well as
delayed information such as the outcomes of games already
completed, that are of common interest to one or multiple end
users.
[0008] The system allows end users who receive the aggregated
content the opportunity to participate with one or more other such
users in whatever offering that is provided them on a standardized
interactive platform. In a fantasy sports contest example,
contestants using different devices might negotiate trades via the
standardized platform.
[0009] In addition, the content aggregated by the standardized
platform may include a multitude of offerings, received from the
information providers, or provided by another entity through the
standardized platform, that can be forwarded to the end users. For
example, offerings may include sales promotions, subscription
enhancements, advertisements, sponsorships, free or pay-for-play
games, premium services, prize pool and other fees, T-commerce,
personalized video highlights and many other features. The
aggregated output may include a message from any sponsor, promoter,
advertiser, or other information provider.
[0010] The aggregated content can be sent by the platform to any
interactive device to be linked with transmissions from other
interactive media such as cable, satellite, telephone and mobile
wireless networks, Internet sites, and other providers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0011] The drawing FIGURE is a schematic block diagram of an
interactive video display system in accordance with the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] An interactive video display system is illustrated in the
schematic block diagram of the drawing FIGURE. The FIGURE
exemplifies operation in the context of a real-time interactive
contest. User sessions are indicated to facilitate explanation of
operation. It is to be understood that the system may be used for
any interactive communication application, the illustrated
interactive contest being merely one example.
[0013] Interactive video device platform 20 is coupled to network
12 for communication with information providers, which may include
contest providers in the present example, and also coupled to
network 10 for communication with end user interactive video
display devices capable of sending commands back through the
communication network. Such devices may include, for example,
personal computers or television receivers at contestant premises,
mobile phones, PDAs or any other communications device.
[0014] Networks 10 and 12, although represented as separate
networks to facilitate description of operation, both collectively
represent a wide range of communication media, including cable,
satellite, telephone and mobile networks, Internet, and wireless
communication. The same or different communication providers may be
active as networks 10 and 12 in any particular interchange among
remote sites.
[0015] Interactive video device platform 20 comprises input
translator coupled to network 12 and provisioning engine 24 coupled
to network 10. Input translator 22 and provisioning engine 24 are
each coupled to a processor 26 that, in this example, maintains a
real-time contest database. The processor 26 is coupled to
correlation engine 28.
[0016] The input translator 22 can receive one to an unlimited
number of simultaneous sessions that may comprise feeds of
real-time stats and/or real-time fantasy contest scores. Each input
set of input data may be processed via a single thread and
correlated by correlation engine 28 with any sponsorship or
advertisement by an embedded software engine. Other content, such
as ads, promotions, notices, messages, or other items of interest
can be added. The input translator determines the communications
protocol of the input data and collects other pertinent information
about the input data source. The input translator aggregates all
feeds into a standard format and assigns a unique ID Container Tag
and constructs a confidence level for a potential predicted
response. For example, the confidence level assigned by the ID
Container Tag enables the input translator to act as an agent to
position the data within a contest database for correlation and a
quick response or feed directly to the provisioning engine for a
more immediate response.
[0017] The contest database 26 stores contextual user information,
associated content, and real-time contest information. It develops
a profile of each unique contest requester and associates pertinent
information from one or more contests. It issues requests to the
correlation engine 28 and identifies any promotions specific to the
contest and contest requestor profile. The output is generated
through the provisioning engine 24 for delivery over multiple
communication network protocols
[0018] The correlation engine 28 serves as an intelligent
marketing, sales and advertising engine. It processes requests from
the contest database 26 and correlates any sponsorship,
advertisement or sales promotion by an embedded software engine.
For instance, the correlation engine may combine the appropriate
local, regional or national promotion by associating the contest
with the contest requestor's database profile. Correlation engine
28 aggregates content for a session and converts the content to a
standardized format. The output is generated through provisioning
engine 24 for delivery over multiple communication network
protocols.
[0019] The input translator determines the communications protocol
of the input data and collects other pertinent information about
the input data source. The input translator assigns a unique ID
Container Tag to the input data and constructs a confidence level
for a potential predicted response. Based on the confidence level
assigned by the ID Container Tag, the input translator either
positions the data within the Contest Database for correlation and
a quick response or feeds directly to the Correlation Engine for a
more immediate response.
[0020] The term "contest service request" illustrated in the
drawing FIGURE indicates any type of request or instruction sent
from a communication device to another device via the network.
Similarly, the term "contest service response" indicates any type
of information provided in response to the contest service request.
Thus, the terms contest service request and contest service
response may be associated with both networks 10 and 12.
[0021] The provisioning engine 24 receives information from the
Contest Database or Correlation Engine and issues a contest service
response in a format acceptable by the communications network and
Interactive Video Display. Thus, from the perspective of the
Contest Requestor, connections with, for example, a Cable Operator
are established in the sense that the Contest Requestor receives
the appropriate login requests and content as needed.
[0022] As an example, a contest service request can be a request to
a web site based on http protocol. In this example, the content
fetched from the web site based on the contest service request is
the contest service response. Alternatively, a contest service
request can be, for example, an instruction to a software
application. In the latter example, the contest service request can
be an instruction to conduct a fantasy sports line-up change, which
will change the contest data in one or more contests to the
communication device based on the instruction. In this example, the
revised contest data is the contest service response.
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