U.S. patent application number 12/854891 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-16 for system for providing simulated betting and kiosk for same.
Invention is credited to Ronald Keith May.
Application Number | 20120040742 12/854891 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45565230 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120040742 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
May; Ronald Keith |
February 16, 2012 |
System For Providing Simulated Betting And Kiosk For Same
Abstract
A system for simulated betting on a sporting event comprising a
main control application having, at least one database, and an
operator interface control application in communication with each
database; at least one betting kiosk located in at least one venue,
each kiosk having, at least one display associated, and at least
one data input device in communication with the main control,
whereby at least one better can place a simulated bet at a kiosk on
a sporting event then the main control application tabulates the
simulated betting results. The input devices may a card reader,
whereby a person who desires to use the system can initiate betting
by causing a card to be read. The relevant statistical information
necessary for tabulation of results being mined by the control
application from a streaming source of information fed to the
system by a network. Advertisements may be served to betters at a
venue targeted to the expected demographic composition of persons
at that venue.
Inventors: |
May; Ronald Keith; (Dallas,
TX) |
Family ID: |
45565230 |
Appl. No.: |
12/854891 |
Filed: |
August 12, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/25 ; 463/42;
463/43 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3288
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/25 ; 463/42;
463/43 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A system for simulated betting on a sporting event comprising:
a. a main control application having, i. at least one database, and
ii. an operator interface control application in communication with
each database; b. at least one betting kiosk located in at least
one venue, each kiosk having, i. at least one display associated,
and ii. at least one data input device in communication with the
main control, whereby at least one better can place a simulated bet
at a kiosk on a sporting event then the main control application
tabulates the simulated betting results.
2. The system of claim 1, where at least one of the input devices
is a card reader, whereby a person who desires to use the system
can initiate betting by causing a card to be read.
3. The system of claim 2, the card reader adapted to decode
magnetic cards.
4. The system of claim 2, the card reader adapted to communicate
with a card by electromagnetic waves.
5. The system of claim 2, the card reader adapted to decode data
from a bar code.
6. The system of claim 1, the relevant information necessary for
tabulation of results being mined by the control application from a
streaming source of information fed to the system by a network.
7. The system of claim 1, the main control application in
communication with at least card kiosk adapted to receive necessary
information to set up a better account and to issue a card that can
be read by a betting kiosk.
8. The system of claim 7, the card kiosk adapted to mine data from
a betters identification card and to prompt the better for any
additional information needed, the card kiosk also having a data
input mechanism for receiving additional data not mined from the
identification card.
9. The system of claim 1, the main control application in
communication with at least two kiosks in at least two different
venues, whereby betters at each venue can compete against each
other and collectively, betters at each venue can compete against
betters at another venue.
10. The system of claim 1, the sporting event comprising an event
selected from the group of a college football game; a professional
football game; a college basketball game; a professional basketball
game; a college baseball game; a professional baseball game; a
college hockey game, a professional hockey game; a college soccer
game; a professional soccer game; a world cup soccer game; an
animal race, including but not limited to horses, dogs or
amardillos; a car race; the X-Games; an Olympic sporting event; a
boxing match; an Ultimate Fighting Championship match; or a
tournament associated with any of the foregoing sports; or a season
associated with any of the foregoing sports.
11. The system of claim 10, the event being simulated by the main
control application, whereby betting on a desired type of sporting
event can occur regardless of whether it is currently ongoing or
whether a broadcast of it is available at a particular venue.
12. The system of claim 1, the available bets including at least
one of the following: the winner of the event; the score
differential during any period of the event; the first to achieve
some objective; the total points scored during any period of the
event; the score during any period of the event; the score at one
or more milestones during the event; statistics of at least one
player in the event; or some combined outcome of more than one
event.
13. The system of claim 1, the databases including following: a.
control, containing information concerning the overall operation of
the system; b. betters, including information related to
individuals using the system; c. groups, including information
related to groups of games such as the live sporting events on
display at a particular venue; d. events/games, including
information on events upon which betters may be able to place
simulated bets; and e. items database, including information on
bets available for or made on an event.
14. The system of claim 13 also including a teams database, whereby
groups of betters at a particular venue can be organized into teams
to compete against each other at that venue on at least one
event.
15. The system of claim 14, the main application maintaining
results for a set of sporting events adapted to allow teams to
compete over a period of time with results for at least two
sporting events determining the winner among teams.
16. The system of claim 14 further including the option of
organizing betters in at least two venues into teams to compete
against each other.
17. The system of claim 13, the databases further including
following additional databases: a. teams, containing information on
betters grouped into teams for an event or a season; b. themes,
containing information for each theme available c. data extended,
containing information to currently be displayed on a extended
desktop results screen; d. data extended main, containing
statistical data brought into the system from an external source
for the games presented in the main control panel; and e. game
request, containing information relating to games for which the
system needs information such as the game number, sport type, and
team name.
18. The system of claim 1, the main control having the following
control tabs: a. betters, adapted to control and input information
related to the betters database; b. themes, adapted to control the
appearance of display screens; c. events, adapted to control and
input information related to the events database; e. additional
options, adapted to control optional elements of the system; and f.
event, adapted to control and input information related to an
event.
19. The system of claim 1, the main control having an ad server for
serving advertisements to be displayed on at least one display
screen in at least one venue.
20. The system of claim 19, the ad server adapted to target the
served ads to the expected demographic makeup of betters in at
least one venue.
21. The system of claim 19, the ad server adapted to target ads
served to the bet kiosk display to the demographic characteristics
of the better who is placing a bet.
22. A method for simulated betting on a sporting event comprising:
a. providing a main control application with at least one database
and an operator interface control application in communication with
each database; b. providing at least one betting kiosk with a kiosk
application in communication with the main control application and
at least one display associated with at least one data input
device.
23. An apparatus for simulated betting on sports comprising: a. a
main control application in communication with at least one
database; b. at least one operator interface adapted to direct the
control application; and c. at least one betting kiosk with a
display and at least one data input device in communication with
the main control application; whereby an operator can set up
betting parameters on a sporting event and betters can place
simulated wagers at betting kiosks after which the main control
application tabulates the wagering results.
24. A betting kiosk comprising: a. a display and at least one data
input device in communication with the kiosk; b. a main control
application in communication with the kiosk adapted to maintain and
provide to the kiosk information from at least one database
controlled by at least one operator interface, whereby,
participants can place simulated bets at the kiosk on the a
sporting event after which the main control application tabulates
the wagering results.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Application claims priority of provisional application
61/273,897 filed on Aug. 11, 2009. The entire contents of
provisional application 61/273,897 are incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a system for simulating betting on
a sporting event, which may be a real sporting event or a simulated
sporting event created by the system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one version of a system
according to the invention.
[0004] FIG. 2 is an example main control screen flow chart.
[0005] FIG. 3 is an example main control tabs flow chart.
[0006] FIG. 4 is an example theme management tab flow chart.
[0007] FIG. 5 is an example event management screen flow chart.
[0008] FIG. 6 is an example additional options and settings flow
chart.
[0009] FIG. 7 is an example better adding flow chart.
[0010] FIG. 8 is an example better lookup flow chart.
[0011] FIG. 9 is an example team play and new teams flow chart.
[0012] FIG. 10 is an example import/export function flow chart.
[0013] FIG. 11 is an example reset bets, banks, and users flow
chart.
[0014] FIG. 12b is an example betting kiosk application flow
chart.
[0015] FIG. 13 is an example extended desktop application flow
chart.
[0016] FIG. 14 is an example screen shot of the main control
application.
[0017] FIG. 15 is an example better screen shot from the main
control application.
[0018] FIG. 16 is an example manage themes screen shot from the
main control application.
[0019] FIG. 17 is an example screen shot of an image management
screen from the main control application.
[0020] FIG. 18 is an example screen shot of a theme management
screen from the main control application.
[0021] FIG. 19 is an example screen shot of a group management
screen from the main control application.
[0022] FIG. 20 is an example screen shop of a group addition screen
from the main control application.
[0023] FIG. 21 is is an example screen shot of a group management
screen from the main control application.
[0024] FIG. 22 is an example screen shot of an additional options
screen from the main control application.
[0025] FIG. 23 is an example add/edit betters screen shot from the
main control application.
[0026] FIG. 24 is an example better lookup screen shot from the
main control application.
[0027] FIG. 25 is an example bet listing by bettor screen shot from
the main control application.
[0028] FIG. 26 is an example manage teams screen shot from the main
control application.
[0029] FIG. 27 is an example begin transaction/bet screen from a
betting kiosk display.
[0030] FIG. 28 is an example betting selection/placement screen
from a betting kiosk display.
[0031] FIG. 29 is an example betting placement details screen from
a betting kiosk display.
[0032] FIG. 30 is an example betting confirmation screen from a
betting kiosk display.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] The components may include a main control application
having, at least one database, with an operator interface control
application in communication with each database; and further having
at least one betting kiosk located in at least one venue, each
kiosk having, at least one display associated with at least one
data input device in communication with the main control, whereby
at least one better can place a simulated bet at a kiosk on a
sporting event then the main control application tabulates the
simulated betting results. The input devices may be a card reader,
whereby a person who desires to use the system can initiate a log
in session by causing a card to be read. Among other mechanisms for
allowing communication of the card, the card could be magnetic, via
a bar code, or it may communicate by electromagnetic waves.
[0034] The invention includes a method for providing simulated
betting on a sporting event comprising: providing a main control
application with at least one database and an operator interface
control application in communication with each database; providing
at least one betting kiosk with a kiosk application in
communication with the main control application and at least one
display associated with at least one data input device. Another
variation of the invention is an apparatus for providing a
simulated betting on sports comprising: a main control application
in communication with at least one database; at least one operator
interface adapted to direct the control application; and at least
one betting kiosk with a display and at least one data input device
in communication with the main control application; whereby an
operator can set up betting parameters on a sporting event and
users can place simulated wagers at betting kiosks after which the
main control application tabulates the wagering results. The
invention includes a betting kiosk comprising: a display and at
least one data input device in communication with the kiosk; a main
control application in communication with the kiosk adapted to
maintain and provide to the kiosk information from at least one
database controlled by at least one operator interface, whereby,
participants can place simulated bets at the kiosk on the a
sporting event after which the main control application tabulates
the wagering results.
[0035] Simulated betting may take place on either a live sporting
event (such as a professional basketball game), or it may be based
on a simulated sporting event staged by the main control
application. Theoretically, betting could occur based on a
pre-recorded sporting event (rather than a live or simulated
event), but that would give sports fans who are familiar with the
recorded event's outcome an advantage over betters who are
unfamiliar with the event. It is easier to make good bets when you
already know the outcome. Therefore, the use of pre-recorded events
is disfavored. Where based on a live event, the relevant
information necessary for tabulation of results may be mined by the
control application from a streaming source of information from the
sporting event, or it may be input manually. Where the data is
mined from a streaming source, that streaming souce typically is
received into the system through an internet connection. Where the
system simulates a sporting event, that event may use historical
teams in the particular sport, for example a simulated pro
basketball game between the Michael Jordan era Chicago Bulls.RTM.
and Kobe Bryant era Los Angeles Lakers.RTM..
[0036] The main control application may be in communication with at
least two kiosks in at least two different venues, whereby betters
at each venue can compete against each other and collectively,
betters at each venue can compete against betters at another venue.
At each venue--such as a bar or conference room--there may be
multiple kiosks and, if so, betters at that venue can bet against
one another and see the results of their wagers at that venue. The
patrons in a first venue could compete against the patrons in a
second venue, and these competitions may include a traditional
rivalry element such as New York Yankee.RTM. fans who are patrons
in a New York City bar competing against Boston Redsox.RTM. fans in
a Boston bar. Alternatively, corporate employees at a first
corporate location could compete against a second group of
employees at another location in a team building event atmosphere.
A large chain of bars or restaurants such as Buffalo Wild
Wings.RTM. could undertake a national competition among its
multiple locations with the betters/patrons at the winning location
receiving some reward as a result of the competition.
[0037] There is no limit to the sporting events upon which
simulated betting could be based. Likely candidates include college
or pro football games; college basketball games; college or pro pro
basketball games; college or pro baseball games; college or pro
hockey games, college, pro or World Cup soccer games; an animal
race, including but not limited to horses, dogs or even amardillos;
motor vehicle races, including but not limited to car or boat
races; the X-Games; an Olympic sporting event; a boxing match; an
Ultimate Fighting Championship match; or a tournament associated
with any of the foregoing sports. The "game" may either be a live
sporting event or an event simulated by the sytem. Simulated events
are conveninent because the meeting does not have to be set at the
time when a real event is taking place. A simulated event may be
purely generated by the main control application as a theoretical
output, or it may have associated with it video components that may
be displayed on at least one screen at the each venue. Generically,
the system may use statistics associated with any ongoing event as
a basis for simulated betting.
[0038] A wide variety of types of simulated bets may be available
including, but not limited to the winner of the event; the score
differential; the first to achieve some objective; the total points
scored; the score during any period of the event; the score at one
or more milestones during the event; statistics of a particular
player in the event; or some combined outcome of more than one
event. For example, bets associated with the outcome of multiple
independent games are often referred to as "parlays." Applicant
incorporates by reference the types of bets described in
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_betting. In addition, simulated
bets may relate to cumulative results over a series of games such
as a tournament, or even over an entire season. Betters can compete
head-to-head, as teams at a venue or among venues, or as a venue
team against other venues. Corporations or other organizations can
offer rewards to betters to encourage participation in the system
and foster excitement.
[0039] Where competitions take place over an extended period of
time (rather than being tied to a single event), a web site may be
provided that allows betters to view their standings in the
competition or other statistics associated with their performance
during the competition. Alternatively, those standings or other
statistics may be communicated to betters by email, text message or
other communication means. The more urgent of these methods (e.g.,
email and text messages) may be used for delivery of results to
betters during or shortly after a short-term event as well.
[0040] The system may have a wide variety of databases including,
but not limited to the following types: control, containing
information concerning the overall operation of the system;
betters, including information related to individuals using the
system; groups, including information related to groups of games
such as the live sporting events on display at a particular venue;
events/games, including information on events upon which betters
may be able to place simulated bets; and an items database,
including information on bets available for or made on an event;
teams, containing information on betters grouped into teams for an
event or a season; themes, containing information for each theme
available, which themes may be grouped by sport; data extended,
containing information to currently be displayed on a extended
desktop results screen; data extended main, containing data brought
into the system from external sources for the games presented in
the main control panel; and finally, game request, containing
information relating to games for which the system needs
information such as the game number, sport type, and team name. To
control the system, the main control may have a variety of "tabs"
or groupings of control-type applications, including, but not
limited to: betters, adapted to control and input information
related to the betters database; themes, adapted to control the
appearance of display screens; events, adapted to control and input
information related to the events database; additional options,
adapted to control optional elements of the system; and event,
adapted to control and input information related to an event. The
system may have a teams database, whereby groups of betters at a
particular venue can be organized into teams to compete against
each other at that venue on at least one event or it may include
the option of organizing betters in at least two venues into teams
to compete against each other. The main application may maintain
results for a set of sporting events adapted to allow teams to
compete over a period of time (for example over the National
Football League.RTM. season) with results for at least two sporting
events determining the winner among teams. The databases are
generally maintained on a server associated with the main control
application. The server and the main control application may be
running on the same computer, or the software underlying the main
control application may be located on a first computer with the
server containing the databases in communication with the first
computer via the Internet or via another communications network
(for example, a cellular telephone network).
[0041] Advertising may be served up to one or more of the screens
in communication with the system. The main control may have a means
for pushing advertising to a venue to be shown on at least one
display screen. Advertising content may be matched to the expected
interests of betters expected to view the advertising. Betters
viewing the Kentucky Derby.RTM. may be expected to have differing
tastes and demographic characteristics, on average, from betters
viewing a Ultimate Fighting Championship.RTM. match. Ads served to
these different audiences can be fine-tuned to more closely match
their likely purchasing preferences. Ads may be served to either
the generalized screens displaying events and/or results in a
particular venue, or the may be served to the screens at a betting
kiosk. If served to the generalized display screens at the venue,
the ads may be tailored to the expected demographics of persons at
that venue. If served to the kiosk display, the aforementioned type
of targeting of advertisements to the expected general demographics
of the venue may be used, or, if more specific information is
available in the system for the particular better, advertisements
specific to their demographics may be served.
[0042] The operation of the system will be described with respect
to an exemplary use of the system at an event where the "sport" is
simulated horse racing. Betters may receive a daily racing form and
a custom betting card with their name programmed and printed on the
card. To place a wager guest swipe their betting card at touch
screen computer kiosk. They are able to pick which horse, how much
to wager and whether their horse will "win," "place" or "show." The
races are shown on the big screens and or plasmas around the event
every 10-20 minutes. A typical event will feature between 8-12
races, but may vary from event to event.
[0043] Better names are input manually or via magnetic (or bar
code) cards and a magnetic card reader. The first screen gives the
user the option to choose bank amount or swipe card to begin. If
the user chooses Bank amount, then swipes the betting card the
software pulls from the data base and shows on the screen or prints
to the receipt printer (option set from main control application)
the users name and the amount currently in their bank. If the user
chooses to place a wager they swipe their card, the software reads
their name and pulls from the user data base and the horse race
data base. The second screen displays all the horses racing in the
upcoming race, and the choice of win, place or show (win, place and
show labels can be dynamically changed for other themes). Above the
win, place or show the odds of winning are displayed. The user
chooses the horse by touching the horse's name on the screen then
chooses win, place or show. The third screen appears showing the
users bank amount (pulled from the user data base), there may be
several quick bet buttons with different bet amounts (pulled from
the horse race data base). The user may place bets up to the total
in their bank. The bet amount displays under the current bank
amount as the user adds money to their bet. The user then has the
option to place their bet or cancel the bet. After placing the bet
the bet placed screen appears (or is printed) and the users' data
base is updated to reflect the bet. The software then reverts to
the first screen to place another bet or for another user. The
screen also has a time out function that helps keep the flow of
users to a fast pace.
[0044] If a better does not have an issued card for use in the
system, a card kiosk may be provided for issuing such cards. The
data needed for the better can be obtained either manually by the
better typing it into a touch screen, keyboard or similar device or
it may be retrieved from a credit card, driver's license, or other
card carried by the better. If the card is read but is missing
information needed to set up a betting account (such as the
better's email address), the card kiosk may prompt the better to
enter missing information after mining the available data from the
identification card. Once the necessary information is obtained,
the card kiosk creates a card and dispenses it to the better. This
dispensed card is then used by the better to log into the system to
place bets.
[0045] FIG. 1 is a flow chart for the the main control screen of
the software. Live events are run from this screen. The countdown
timer until a simulated horse race can be controlled from this
screen. This is where races are started and/or reset. When a race
starts the software calculates all the betting results, flags the
race as run and then displays the results via the extended desktop
application at displays at the venue. Betting at a kiosk can also
be locked or unlocked from this application.
[0046] Five control tabs on the main screen are shown in FIG. 15.
The tabs include at betters tab, a themes tab, an events tab, an
additional options tab, and a live event tab (goes back to the main
control page). The betters tab allows control of betters list,
including but not limited to options to add/edit single betters,
look up betters, view/print bets, enable teams, manage teams,
import or export betters, to reset a better's bank, to reset bets,
to delete betters, and or to add/edit images.
[0047] The theme screen allows you to manage, input and switch
between themes for an event, such as horse racing, boxing, car
racing, or other such themes. The themes page has options to input
and select of photos for each display screens background. The
images to be selected may include an ntro screen (swipe card)
picture on kiosk, a choose horse screen picture on kiosk, a place
bet screen picture on kiosk, a show bet placed screen picture on
kiosk, and an event result screen on extended desktop.
[0048] The event theme screen allows for managing which group will
be playing. It allows for inputting or deleting existing groups. A
group is defined as a list of betters at an event. The events theme
page has options to input or choose which races will be run and
what order they will take place during the event. This is where all
horses, odds and order the horses finish in a race are entered.
Themes may be mixed in this set up for a particular event. Races 1,
2 and 3 may be horse racing while race 4, 5 may be a car race.
[0049] You can select and set the music that will play between the
races. Betting screen time out timer is set here. The countdown
timer for the amount of time between races is set in this screen.
Example the extended desktop will display 15 minutes, 14 minutes,
13 minutes . . . to next race. The following toggles are also
available in this screen: 1. Betting locked or unlocked--opens and
closes the betting kiosk; 2. Printing on or off--when printing is
on receipts for each bet print at the kiosk. When printing is off
the bet place screen shows the better their wager; and 3. Card
delimiter on or off--sets the delimiter on the magnetic card
reader
[0050] The Extended desktop application is the third application to
make up this software package. Using multithreading technology and
running on the Main control computer. This package extends all
video output, horse race videos, results of betting and time to
next race to the plasmas and big screens at the event.
* * * * *
References