U.S. patent application number 13/962521 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-05 for systems and methods for providing fantasy sports contests with wagering opportunities.
This patent application is currently assigned to UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is United Video Properties, Inc.. Invention is credited to David Barber.
Application Number | 20130324228 13/962521 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49122458 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130324228 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Barber; David |
December 5, 2013 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING FANTASY SPORTS CONTESTS WITH
WAGERING OPPORTUNITIES
Abstract
Systems and methods for providing to a user the ability to use a
fantasy sports contest application to access fantasy sports
contests and wagering opportunities are presented. In some
embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy sports contest
application may provide to the user the ability to place a wager
based on the user's performance in a fantasy sports contest. In
some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy sports
contest may provide to the user the ability to place a wager based
on a real-life sporting event that is related to a fantasy sports
contest in which the user participates. The fantasy sports contest
application may provide to the user the ability to place a wager
for money, fantasy sports contest points, non-cash prizes and
points redeemable for prices.
Inventors: |
Barber; David; (Tulsa,
OK) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
United Video Properties, Inc. |
Santa Clara |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES,
INC.
Santa Clara
CA
|
Family ID: |
49122458 |
Appl. No.: |
13/962521 |
Filed: |
August 8, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10234349 |
Aug 30, 2002 |
8538563 |
|
|
13962521 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2300/8052 20130101;
G07F 17/3276 20130101; A63F 2011/0097 20130101; G07F 17/3288
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/25 |
International
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20060101
G07F017/32 |
Claims
1-232. (canceled)
233. A method for facilitating wagers in a fantasy sports
application, the method comprising: receiving a first user input
defining a wager rule of a fantasy sports contest, wherein the
wager rule is stored in a storage medium; receiving a second user
input placing a wager related to the fantasy sports contest;
comparing the wager to the wager rule; determining, using a
processing circuitry, whether the wager corresponds to the wager
rule; and in response to determining that the wager corresponds to
the wager rule, transmitting the wager.
234. The method of claim 233, wherein the wager rule determines
whether the wager can be placed between one or more inter-league
contests, intra-league contests, and/or out of league contests of
the fantasy sports contest.
235. The method of claim 233, wherein placing the wager relates to
at least one of fantasy sports points, points redeemable for
prizes, non-cash prizes, and/or money.
236. The method of claim 233, wherein the wager is based on a
real-life event.
237. The method of claim 233, wherein the wager is transmitted to
one or more user selected participants of the fantasy sports
contest.
238. The method of claim 233, wherein the wager rule defines a
limit on an amount of at least one of fantasy sports points, points
redeemable for prizes, non-cash prizes, and/or money a user is
allowed to wager.
239. The method of claim 238, wherein the limit is based on an
account balance of the user.
240. The method of claim 233 further comprising, in response to
determining whether the wager corresponds to the wager rule,
authorizing the wager.
241. The method of claim 233 further comprising: determining a
predetermined limit on a number of wagers that may be associated
with a user based on the wager rule; and preventing the user from
placing additional wagers when the user reaches the predetermined
limit.
242. The method of claim 233, wherein transmitting the wager
comprises transmitting alternatives to wagering for money when
wagering for money is not legally permitted in a geographic region
of a user.
243. A system for facilitating wagers in a fantasy sports
application, the system comprising: a processing circuitry
configured to: receive a first user input defining a wager rule of
a fantasy sports contest, wherein the wager rule is stored in a
storage medium; receive a second user input placing a wager related
to the fantasy sports contest; compare the wager to the wager rule;
determine whether the wager corresponds to the wager rule; and
transmit the wager in response to determining that the wager
corresponds to the wager rule.
244. The system of claim 243, wherein the wager rule determines
whether the wager can be placed between one or more inter-league
contests, intra-league contests, and/or out of league contests of
the fantasy sports contest.
245. The system of claim 243, wherein placing the wager relates to
at least one of fantasy sports points, points redeemable for
prizes, non-cash prizes, and/or money.
246. The system of claim 243, wherein the wager is based on a
real-life event.
247. The system of claim 243, wherein the wager is transmitted to
one or more user selected participants of the fantasy sports
contest.
248. The system of claim 243, wherein the wager rule defines a
limit on an amount of at least one of fantasy sports points, points
redeemable for prizes, non-cash prizes, and/or money a user is
allowed to wager.
249. The system of claim 248, wherein the limit is based on an
account balance of the user.
250. The system of claim 243, wherein the processing circuitry is
further configured to authorize the wager in response to
determining whether the wager corresponds to the wager rule.
251. The system of claim 243, wherein the processing circuitry is
further configured to: determine a predetermined limit on a number
of wagers that may be associated with a user based on the wager
rule; and prevent the user from placing additional wagers when the
user reaches the predetermined limit.
252. The system of claim 243, wherein the processing circuitry is
configured to transmit the wager by transmitting alternatives to
wagering for money when wagering for money is not legally permitted
in a geographic region of a user.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to fantasy sports contests, and more
particularly, this invention relates to systems and methods for
providing wagering opportunities in conjunction with fantasy sports
contests.
[0002] In known fantasy sports contests, a user (i.e., a fantasy
sports contestant) selects a roster, a team, a particular
individual, or a group of individuals in a season-long athletic
competition. Fantasy sports contests are typically based on
real-life team sports (e.g., football, baseball, basketball,
hockey, soccer, rugby, etc.), real-life athletic events in which
individuals compete (e.g., golf, tennis, automotive racing, etc.),
and real-life sporting events involving animals (e.g., horse and
dog racing). The user is given the ability to take on the role of a
fictional general manager with powers which may include the ability
to draft, trade, dismiss and otherwise manage the user's fantasy
sports contest team selections.
[0003] Known fantasy sports contest systems provide services to
users which include providing statistical information for real-life
athletic competition and tracking users' standings (i.e., rankings)
in fantasy sports contests. Known fantasy sports contest systems
typically determine a user's standing (i.e., ranking) in a fantasy
sports contest based on the performance of the user's fantasy sport
contest team selections in real-life athletic competition. For
example, a conventional fantasy sports contest system might award
five fantasy sports contest points to the user for every goal
scored in real-life by a member of the user's fantasy sports
contest soccer team. Generally, the user who has accumulated the
most fantasy sports contest points by the conclusion of a fantasy
sports contest (e.g., the end of a real-life athletic season) is
the overall winner of that fantasy sports contest.
[0004] Fantasy sports contestants may often find it desirable to
wager with one another based on, for example, which of the fantasy
sports contestants accumulates the most fantasy sports contest
points in a fantasy sports contest (e.g., for a particular week of
the fantasy sports contest, over the entire fantasy sports contest,
etc.). Fantasy sports contestants may also find it desirable to
wager based on real-life athletic events (e.g., real-life athletic
events that are related to the contestants' fantasy sports
contest). In particular, because fantasy sports contestants
typically track closely real-life athletic events (e.g., to plan
favorable trades of the contestants' fantasy sports contest team
selections, as a hobby or pastime, for entertainment purposes,
etc.), fantasy sports contestants may find it desirable to wager
(e.g., with other fantasy sports contestants, through a wagering
service) based on the outcomes of these real-life athletic
events.
[0005] Known fantasy sports contest systems do not provide to a
user the ability to wager. In particulars a user of a known fantasy
sports contest system is required to establish independently from
the fantasy sports contest system terms of a wager with, for
example, another fantasy sports contestant. Therefore, fantasy
sports contest data (e.g., real-life sports statistics, fantasy
sports standings, etc.) that may otherwise be useful in
establishing the terms of a wager may be not be conveniently
accessible to a user who is determining whether to wager.
Additionally, the user may have no choice but to reiterate (i.e.,
independent from the fantasy sports contest system) an opportunity
to wager to, for example, a second fantasy sports contestant in the
event that wager terms cannot be established with a first fantasy
sports contestant. Furthermore, because known fantasy sports
contest systems do not store or otherwise process data for the
user's wagers, the user may forget the agreed-upon terms of a wager
or, even worse, whether a wager was ever made.
[0006] In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide
systems and methods for providing wagering opportunities in
conjunction with fantasy sports contests.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide systems
and methods for providing wagering opportunities in conjunction
with fantasy sports contests.
[0008] This and other objects are accomplished in accordance with
the present invention by providing a fantasy sports contest
application that provides to a user the ability access to fantasy
sports contests and wagering opportunities.
[0009] Systems and methods for providing to a user the ability to
use a fantasy sports contest application to access fantasy sports
contests and wagering opportunities are provided in accordance with
the present invention. The fantasy sports contest application may
display to the user fantasy sports contest information that is
associated with a fantasy sports contest in which the user
participates. The fantasy sports contest information may include,
for example, information for real-life athletic competition, that
is associated with the user's fantasy sports contest or information
that indicates the user's performance in the fantasy sports
contest. The fantasy sports contest application may provide to the
user the ability to place a wager related to the fantasy sports
contest and may process the wager for the user.
[0010] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to the user the ability to
place a wager based on the user's performance in a fantasy sports
contest. For example, the fantasy sports contest application may
provide to the user the ability to place a wager based on whether
the user wins the fantasy sports contest or a portion of the
fantasy sports contest (e.g., a particular week of a season-long
fantasy sports contest). In some embodiments of the present
invention, the fantasy sports contest application may provide to
the user the ability to place a wager based on a portion of a
sporting event, a sporting events or more than one sporting event
that is related to a fantasy sports contest in which the user
participates. For example, the fantasy sports contest application
may provide to a contestant of a fantasy sports Major League
Baseball contest the ability to place a wager based on Major League
Baseball events. In some embodiments of the present invention, the
fantasy sports contest application way provide to the user the
ability to use the fantasy sports contest to place a wager
unrelated to a fantasy sports contest in which the user
participates.
[0011] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may display to the user information
indicating a wagering opportunity that is related to a fantasy
sports contest in which the user participates. In response to
receiving with the fantasy sports contest application a user
indication of the wagering opportunity, the wager may be accepted
for the user.
[0012] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may use application data to at least
partially define a wagering opportunity for the user. For example,
the fantasy sports contest application may use application data
that indicates an account balance of the user to define a maximum
wager amount for the user. The maximum wager amount for the user
may also be set to an arbitrary number. The total amount of wagers
by a user for a given time period may also be set (e.g., daily
wagering limits). In some embodiments of the present invention, the
fantasy sports contest application may provide to the user the
ability to at least partially define a wagering opportunity. For
example, the fantasy sports contest application may provide to a
user the ability to at least partially define wagering opportunity
terms such as a wagering opportunity description and to whom a
wagering opportunity is directed.
[0013] Wagering opportunities of the present invention may be
opportunities to wager for, for example, fantasy sports contest
points (i.e., points that accumulate to increase the user's
standing in the fantasy sports contest), points redeemable for
prizes (i.e., cash or non-cash prizes), non-cash prizes, or money.
Wagering opportunities of the present invention may have, for
example, a predetermined payout schedule (e.g., the winner
receiving 25 points redeemable for prizes, the winner receiving a
specified percentage of the sum of all the entry fees to a wagering
pool, etc.) or may be organized in a pari-mutuel approach (i.e.,
determining a winning wagerer's payout based on the number and
disposition of other wagerers). In some embodiments of the present
invention, the fantasy sports contest application may provide to
the user the ability to access only wagering opportunities that are
valid for the user (e.g., wagering opportunities for money if
wagering for money is legally permitted in the user's geographic
region).
[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention, multiple
fantasy sports contest leagues can be grouped together into a
fantasy sports contest. A fantasy sports contest league for a
particular sport may be a sub-division of a larger fantasy sports
contest, for that sport (e.g., multiple fantasy sports NBA
Basketball contest leagues can be grouped together into a fantasy
sports contest). A fantasy sports contest of the present invention
may include one or more leagues all of which are for a particular
sport, may include one or more leagues for multiple sports, or may
not be sub-divided into leagues.
[0015] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to one or more fantasy
sports contestants one ability to access wagering opportunities.
For example, the fantasy sports contest application may provide to
one or more fantasy sports contestants that participate in a
fantasy sports contest league the ability to access intra-fantasy
sports contest league ("intra-league") wagering opportunities.
Intra-league wagering opportunities are opportunities to wager
between contestants of the same fantasy sports contest league or
wagering opportunities for fantasy sports contest points between a
contestant of a fantasy sports contest league and the fantasy
sports contest application system.
[0016] As another example, the fantasy sports contest application
may provide to one or more fantasy sports contestants that
participate in fantasy sports contest leagues the ability to access
inter-fantasy sports contest league ("inter-league") wagering
opportunities. Inter-league wagering opportunities are
opportunities to wager between different fantasy sports contest
leagues or between contestants of different fantasy sports contest
leagues. Inter-league wagering opportunities need not be limited to
those between leagues or contestants of the same fantasy sports
contest. Still another example, the fantasy sports contest
application may provide to one or more fantasy sports contestants
the ability to access out-of-fantasy sports contest league
("out-of-league") wagering opportunities.
[0017] Out-of league wagering opportunities include all other
wagering opportunities that are not intra-league or inter-league
wagering opportunities (e.g., traditional sports-related wagering
opportunities on the outcome of a game).
[0018] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports content application may store data for a wager of the user.
The fantasy sports contest application may display to the user
various wagering information including, for example, information
for an outcome of a wager, information indicating the parties
involved in a wager, information indicating when a wager was
placed, and information indicating whether a wager has been
paid.
[0019] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to the user the ability to
enable wagering related to a fantasy sports contest in which the
user participates. For example, the fantasy sports contest
application may provide to the user an option to enable one or more
of intra-league wagering, inter-league wagering, and out of league
wagering related to the fantasy sports contest. In some embodiments
of the present invention, the fantasy sports contest application
may provide to the user alternatives to wagering for money if
wagering for money is not legally permitted in the user's
geographic region. In some embodiments of the present invention,
the fantasy sports contest application may provide to the user the
ability to enable wagering unrelated to a fantasy sports contest in
which the user participates.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The above and other objects and advantages of the invention
will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed
description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout,
and in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is an illustrative client/server system for providing
fantasy sports contests with wagering opportunities in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is an illustrative interactive television system for
providing fantasy sports contests with wagering opportunities in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 3 is an illustrative arrangement of the user equipment
of FIG. 2 in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0024] FIG. 4 is an illustrative arrangement of the user equipment
of FIGS. 1 and 2 in accordance with various embodiments of the
present invention;
[0025] FIG. 5 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest application
options display screen in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0026] FIG. 6 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest application
password confirmation display screen in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 7 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest application
password entry display screen in accordance with one embodiment of
the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 8 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest application
display screen showing a contestant's fantasy sports contest league
statistics in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 9 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest application
display screen showing fantasy sports contest league standings in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 10 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application display screen showing fantasy sports contest league
rules in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0031] FIG. 11 is an illustrative wagering application settings
display screen showing wagering rules for a fantasy sports contest
league in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0032] FIG. 12 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application edit league rules display screen in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 13 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application password entry overlay display screen in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 14 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application display screen showing winners of previous weeks of a
fantasy sports contest league in accordance with one embodiment of
the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 15 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application edit team roster display screen in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 16 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application invalid trade display screen in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0037] FIGS. 17-22 are illustrative fantasy sports contest
application display screens showing outstanding intra-league wagers
in accordance with various embodiments of the present
invention;
[0038] FIGS. 23-25 are illustrative fantasy sports contest
application display screens showing outstanding inter-league wagers
in accordance with various embodiments of the present
invention;
[0039] FIG. 26 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application display screen showing outstanding out-of-league wagers
in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 27 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application available intra-league wagering opportunities display
screen in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0041] FIG. 28 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application available inter-league wagering opportunities display
screen in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0042] FIG. 29 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application available out-of-league wagering opportunities display
screen in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0043] FIG. 30 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application wagering password entry display screen in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 31 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application wager confirmation display screen in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention;
[0045] FIG. 32 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application user account information display screen in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention;
[0046] FIG. 33 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application out-of-league wagering opportunity proposal display
screen in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0047] FIG. 34 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application inter-league wagering opportunity proposal display
screen in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0048] FIG. 35 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application intra-league wagering opportunity proposal display
screen in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0049] FIG. 36 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application inter-league wagering opportunity proposal display
screen in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0050] FIG. 37 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application invalid wagering opportunity proposal display screen in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
[0051] FIG. 38 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application wagering opportunity proposal confirmation display
screen in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0052] FIG. 39 is an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application display screen showing the fantasy sports contest
application implemented on an interactive television platform in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
[0053] FIG. 40 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in
providing to a user the ability to use a fantasy sports contest
application to access fantasy sports contests and wagering
opportunities in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0054] FIG. 41 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in
providing to the user the ability to use the fantasy sports contest
application to place a wager related to the user's fantasy sports
contest in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0055] FIG. 42 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in
defining a wagering opportunity for a wager in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0056] FIG. 43 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in
defining a wagering opportunity to be a wagering opportunity at
least partially defined by the user in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0057] FIG. 44 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in
accepting a wager for a user in accordance with one embodiment of
the present invention;
[0058] FIGS. 45-46 are flow charts of illustrative steps involved
in defining a limit on the wagering amount of a wager in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention;
[0059] FIG. 47 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in
providing to a user the ability to use a fantasy sports contest
application to access fantasy sports contests and wagering
opportunities in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0060] FIGS. 48-49 are flow charts of illustrative steps involved
in determining whether to provide to the user the ability to use
the fantasy sports contest application to place a wager related to
the fantasy sports contest, in accordance with various embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0061] Systems and methods for providing wagering opportunities in
conjunction with fantasy sports contests are presented.
[0062] Fantasy sports contests of the present invention may include
any suitable sports contest in which the user is given the ability
to make decisions that may affect the standing of the user in the
sports contest. For example, in typical team-oriented fantasy
sports contests, the user may participate in the capacity of a
fictional general manager. In this situation, the user may be have
responsibilities such as creating a team roster (e.g., drafting
players), selecting reserves, making trades, and otherwise
maintaining the composition of the user's team roster. It will foe
understood that any other suitable decision-making capability may
be given to the user in a fantasy sports contest in addition to or
in place of those indicated above.
[0063] Fantasy sports contests of the present invention need not be
limited or restricted in time. For example, a fantasy sports
contest may last an entire season, a portion of a season, multiple
seasons, a definite period of time (e.g., one month, two weeks,
three days, one hour, etc.), the duration of a particular event
(e.g., Wimbledon, etc.), a portion of a particular event, or any
other suitable period of time.
[0064] In one suitable approach, fantasy sports contests of the
present invention may include contests in which the user is not
necessarily playing the role of a fictional general manager. For
example, fantasy sports contests may involve the user selecting
(i.e., blindly or with calculation) whether particular outcomes
will occur (e.g., whether a particular golfer will make the next
putt). Any such suitable decision-making may be the basis of a
fantasy sports contest or a part of a fantasy sports contest.
[0065] Fantasy sports contests of the present invention may use any
suitable one or more scoring systems. For example, existing fantasy
scoring systems include straight point systems (e.g., points are
awarded and subtracted based on real-life plays without regard to
the performance of other players on other fantasy teams in a
league), rotisserie systems (e.g., points are awarded based on the
user's relative ranking against other users), and head-to-head
systems (e.g., users in a league are matched against one another in
a round-robin series of one-on-one contests during the course of a
season). These are merely illustrative scoring systems. Any other
suitable scoring system may be used in the fantasy sports contests
of the present invention.
[0066] It will be understood that the above are merely illustrative
elements of fantasy sports contests. Any other suitable arrangement
or approach may be used. It will further be understood that the
nature of the fantasy sports contests may vary depending on which
activity or sport is involved or based on any other suitable
criteria.
[0067] The present invention is primarily described herein in terms
of a fantasy sports contest application. The fantasy sports contest
application may be any suitable software, hardware, or both that
may be used to implement the features of present invention. It will
be understood that any other suitable software, hardware, or both
(e.g., a wagering application) may be used in conjunction with the
fantasy sports contest application or in place of the fantasy
sports contest application to implement some or all of the features
of the present invention.
[0068] Illustrative systems and methods for providing fantasy
sports contest applications are described, for example, in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 4,918,603 (Hughes, et al.), 5,846,132 (Junkin), 5,971,854
(Junkin) and 6,193,610 (Junkin), as well as Hughes et al . U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 09/438,991, filed Oct. 29, 1999, Hughes
et al. U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/329,587, filed
Oct. 15, 2001, and Hughes U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
60/338,316, filed Nov. 5, 2001, which are all hereby incorporated
by reference herein in their entireties.
[0069] FIG. 1 shows an illustrative client/server system for
providing fantasy sports contests with wagering opportunities in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. A fantasy
sports contest application may be at least partially implemented by
server 102. For example, portions of the fantasy sports contest
application that implement features involved in the processing of
client requests and in the tracking of the performance of fantasy
sports contestants may be implemented by server 102. Server 102 may
be one or more servers capable of accessing or otherwise receiving
application data from rules data source 104, statistics data source
106, contest data source 108 and wagering data source 110. Server
102 may be based on one or more computers.
[0070] Rules data source 104 may be any equipment suitable for
generating, storing, or otherwise providing application data
including fantasy sports contest rules to server 102. In some
embodiments of the present invention, rules data source 104 may
provide application data that indicates rules specific to one or
more fantasy sports contests and one or more fantasy sports
contestants to server 102. For example, rules data source 104 may
provide data that governs user participation in fantasy sports
contests (e.g., data governing a maximum number of fantasy sports
contests that a user may participate in, data governing a maximum
number of fantasy sports contest trades that may be made in a week,
other fantasy sports contest application options, etc.). As another
example, rules data source 104 may provide data that governs user
participation in wagering opportunities (e.g., data governing
whether a user is permitted to view, propose, accept and otherwise
manage wagering opportunities data governing whether users of the
fantasy sports application are eligible to compete for non-cash
prices, money, or points redeemable for prizes, data setting a
limit on the amount of a wager, data determining other wagering
options, etc.).
[0071] Statistics data source 106 may be any equipment suitable for
generating, storing or otherwise providing application data
including statistics data to server 102. In some embodiments of the
present invention, statistics data, source 106 may provide
real-life sports statistics data including real-life play-by-play
accounts to server 102. For example, statistics data source 106 may
provide statistics data for a real-life football game, baseball
game, soccer game, automobile racing event, horse racing event, or
any other sports event to server 102. The fantasy sports contest
application may use data from statistics data source 106 to, for
example, calculate fantasy sports contest standings. In some
embodiments of the present invention, statistics data source 106
may provide data for events that can be wagered on to server 102.
For example, statistics data source 106 may provide data for
sporting events, televised events, events broadcasted on radio, or
any other events that can be wagered on. Statistics data from
statistics data source 106 may be used to, for example, determine
wagering opportunities and to determine wagering outcomes.
[0072] Contest data source 108 may be any equipment suitable for
generating, storing or otherwise providing application data
including data for fantasy sports contests to server 102. For
example, contest data source 108 may provide application data
including a list of fantasy sports contestants of a particular
fantasy sports contest league, fantasy sports contest standings, a
list of available fantasy sports contest selections (e.g., sports
players), or any other data for fantasy sports contests. In some
embodiments of the present invention, contest data source 108 may
provide application data specific to one or more fantasy sports
contestants to server 102. For example, contest data source 108 may
provide application data including fantasy sports contestant
preferences (e.g., whether a contestant wishes to view wagering
opportunities), a list of a fantasy sports contestant's team
selections, or any other data specific to one or more fantasy
sports contestants.
[0073] Wagering data source 110 may be any equipment suitable for
generating, storing or otherwise providing application data
including wagering data to server 102. In some embodiments of the
present invention, wagering data source 110 may provide data for
available wagering opportunities to server 102. For example,
wagering data source 110 may provide data indicating events that
can be wagered on. In some embodiments of the present invention,
wagering data source 110 may provide data for wagers (i.e.,
wagering opportunities that have been accepted) to server 102. For
example, wagering data source 110 may provide data that indicates
the terms of wagers (e.g., the parties involved in a wager, an
amount of a wager, a type of a wage, an outcome of a wager, other
data indicating the terms of a wager, etc.). In some embodiments of
the present invention, wagering data source 110 may provide data
that indicates guidelines of acceptable wagering opportunities and
wagers. For example, wagering data source 110 may provide data
indicating a limit on the amount of an acceptable wagering
opportunity or wager, types of acceptable wagering opportunities or
wagers, or any other data indicating guidelines of acceptable
wagering opportunities or wagers. Wagering data may also include
handicapping, tote board, current track conditions, other
information used in horse racing, or any other wagering odds,
spreads, or betting lines used in other sports.
[0074] In the example of FIG. 1, data for fantasy sports contests
and wagering opportunities and wagers is provided by separate data
sources 104, 106, 108 and 110. In other embodiments of the present
invention, data for fantasy sports contests and wagering
opportunities and wagers may provided by a single data source or
any other combination of data sources.
[0075] Server 102 accesses or otherwise receives application data
from data sources 104, 106, 108 and 110 over communications paths
112, 114, 116 and 118, respectively. Each of communications paths
112, 114, 116 and 118 may be one or more satellite communications
paths, fiber-optic paths, coaxial cable paths, radio frequency
paths, electromagnetic communications paths, microwave
communications paths, internet paths, or any other suitable wired
or wireless communications paths or combination of such paths.
Communications paths 112, 114, 116 and 118 may have sufficient
bandwidth to transmit video signals. Server 102 may also
communicate data to data sources 104, 106, 108 and 110 over
communications paths 112, 114,, 116 and 118, respectively, or other
suitable communications paths.
[0076] An application client running on user equipment 120
retrieves application data from server 102 over communications path
122. The fantasy sports contest application may be at least
partially implemented by user equipment 120. For example, the
portions of the fantasy sports contest application that implement
features involved in user interaction may be implemented by user
equipment 120. User equipment 120 may be based on any suitable
hardware platform or topology. Suitable hardware platforms may
include, for example, satellite receivers, personal computer
televisions (PC/TVs), personal computers (e.g., with television
tuner cards), cable set-top boxes, televisions, any other suitable
hardware platform or combination of such hardware platforms. User
equipment 120 may be based on one or more computers. There may be
numerous installations of user equipment 120. However, only one
installation of user equipment 120 has been shown in FIG. 1 to
avoid over-complicating the drawing. Communications path 122 may be
one or more satellite communications paths, fiber-optic paths,
coaxial cable paths, radio frequency paths, electromagnetic
communications paths, microwave communications paths, Internet
paths, or any other suitable wired or wireless communications paths
or combination of such paths. Communications path 122 may have
sufficient bandwidth to transmit video signals. The application
client running on user equipment 120 may also communicate data to
server 102 over communications path 122 or other suitable
communications path.
[0077] An application client running on user equipment 120 may
retrieve fantasy sports contest data and wagering data from server
102 using any suitable approach. For example, the application
client may pass SQL (structured query language) requests as
messages to server 102. In another suitable approach, the
application client may invoke remote procedures that reside on
server 102 using one or more remote procedure calls. Server 102 may
execute SQL statements for such invoked remote procedures. In still
another suitable approach, client objects executed by the
application may communicate with server objects executed by server
102 using, for example, an object request broker (ORB). Server 102
may, for example, run a suitable database engine (e.g., SQL Server
by Microsoft) and provide data to the application client
implemented on user equipment 120. In some embodiments of the
present invention, server 102 may provide one or more of fantasy
sports contest data and wagering data to user equipment 102 using a
suitable "push" methodology (e.g., forced messages).
[0078] In some embodiments of the present invention, server 102 may
transmit, in response to an application client request, application
data to user equipment 120 discretely as separate files, messages,
or packets, in a continuous data stream (e.g., using a
carousel-based approach), or both. For example, responsive to
initialization (e.g., boot-up) of the fantasy sports contest
application by user equipment 120, server 102 may transmit
real-life sports statistics data obtained from statistics data
source 106 to user equipment 120 in a real-time, continuous data
stream. As another example, server 102 may transmit rules data from
rules data source 104 to user equipment 120 on-demand and in
separately-addressed data packets.
[0079] In some embodiments of the present invention, one or more
servers of server 102 may provide fantasy sports contest data to
user equipment 120 and one or more servers of server 102 may
provide wagering data to user equipment 120. For example, one or
more servers of server 102 may provide fantasy sports contest data
from rules data source 104, statistics data source 106 and contest
data source 108 to user equipment 120, and one or more servers of
server 102 may provide wagering data from wagering data source 110
to user equipment 120. In some embodiments of the present
invention, one or more servers of server 102 may provide both
fantasy sports contest data and wagering data to user equipment
120. For example, one or more servers of server 103 may provide
both fantasy sports contest data and wagering data from data
sources 104, 106, 108 and 110 to user equipment 120.
[0080] Fantasy sports contest data and wagering data may be
integrated to provide an at least partially unified presentation at
user equipment 120. For example, fantasy sports contest data may be
displayed in a first region of a display screen and wagering data
may be displayed in a second region of the display screen. As
another example, fantasy sports data may be displayed in a first
display screen and may include a user-selectable option to view
wagering data in a second display screen. Still another example,
fantasy sports date and wagering data may be fully integrated in
the same display screens.
[0081] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports application may be fully operative to provide fantasy sports
contests with wagering opportunities to a user. For example, the
fantasy sports contest application may use application data from
data sources 104, 106, 108 and 110 to define and display fantasy
sports contest options and wagering options for a user.
[0082] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may interface with one or more wagering
applications (e.g., implemented at least partially by server 102
and user equipment 120) to provide fantasy sports contests with
wagering opportunities to a user. The fantasy sports contest
application and the one or more wagering applications may
communicate using, for example, various Application Programming
Interfaces ("APIs") to provide fantasy sports contests with
wagering opportunities to the user. At least a portion of the data
provided to user equipment 120 may be common to both the fantasy
sports contest application and the one or more wagering
applications. For example, statistics data from statistics data
source 106 may be used to calculate fantasy sports contest
standings with the fantasy sports contest application and to define
wagering opportunities and outcomes with the one or more wagering
applications. As another example, rules data from rules data source
104 may be used to determine whether a user is permitted to wager
(which may determine various options and settings of both the
fantasy sports contest application and the one or more wagering
applications).
[0083] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application (e.g., and one or more wagering
applications) may be at least partially implemented by one or more
of data sources 104, 106, 108 and 110. For example, portions of the
fantasy sports contest application that implement features involved
in the processing of client requests and in the tracking of the
performance of fantasy sports contestants may be implemented by one
or more of data sources 104, 106, 108 and 110.
[0084] In some embodiments of the present invention, data sources
104, 106, 108 and 110 may transmit application data directly to
user equipment 120. Data sources 104, 106, 108 and 110 may transmit
application data to user equipment 120 using any suitable approach.
For example, statistics data source 106 may transmit application
data including statistics data to user equipment 120 in a real-time
data stream. As another example, rules data source 104 may transmit
application data including fantasy sports contest rules data and
contest data source 108 may transmit application data including
fantasy sports contest data to user equipment 120 continuously,
periodically (e.g., providing application data to user equipment
120 weekly, each time user equipment 120 initializes the fantasy
sports contest application, etc.), on-demand, or using any other
saleable approach or combination of approaches. Still another
example, wagering data source 110 (e.g., having one or more
servers) may transmit application data including wagering data to
user equipment 120 in response to an application client
request.
[0085] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may be implemented on an interactive
television platform. For example, FIG. 2 shows an illustrative
interactive television system 200 for providing to a user fantasy
sports contests with wagering opportunities. Main facility 202 may
transmit application data from fantasy sports contest and wagering
data source 204 to television distribution facility 206 via
communications path 208. There may be numerous installations of
television distribution facility 206. However, only one
installation of television distribution facility 206 is shown to
avoid over-complicating the drawing. Fantasy sports contest and
wagering data source 204 may be any suitable computer or
computer-based system for generating, storing, or obtaining
application data (e.g., manually from an operator, electronically
via a computer network, or other connection, or via storage media)
and putting the data into electronic form for distribution by main
facility 202. In the example of FIG. 2, fantasy sports contest and
wagering data source 204 provides both fantasy sports contest and
wagering data. In other embodiments of the present invention,
fantasy sports contest data and wagering data may be provided by
separate data sources (e.g., in embodiments in which the fantasy
sports contest application interfaces with one or more wagering
applications to provide fantasy sports contests with wagering
opportunities).
[0086] Main facility 202 may transmit application data for the
fantasy sports contest application to television distribution
facility 206 using any suitable approach. For examples, main
facility 202 may transmit application data to television
distribution facility 206 continuously (e.g., via a real-time data
feed), periodically (e.g., via localizations directed to one or
more television distribution facilities 206 that receive similar
data or are located in a similar geographical region or coverage
area), on-demand (e.g., using a client/server based approach), or
using any other suitable approach or combination of approaches.
Television distribution facility 206 may communicate data to main
facility 202 using communication path 208 or other suitable
communication path.
[0087] Television distribution facility 206 may be any facility
suitable for distributing television signals and application data
including fantasy sports contest application data to user equipment
210 via communications path 212. For example, television
distribution facility 206 may be a cable system headend, a
broadcast distribution facility, a satellite television
distribution facility, or any other suitable facility for
distributing television signals and application data to users. User
equipment 210 may communicate data to television distribution
facility 206 using communications path 212 or other suitable
communications path.
[0088] Each of communications paths 208 and 212 may be one or more
satellite communications paths, fiber-optic paths, coaxial cable
paths, radio frequency paths, electromagnetic communications paths,
microwave communications paths, Internet paths, or any other
suitable wired or wireless communications paths or combination of
such paths. Communications paths 208 and 212 may have sufficient
bandwidth to transmit video signals.
[0089] Television distribution facility 206 may include
distribution equipment 214. Distribution equipment 214 may be any
equipment suitable for distributing application data to user
equipment 210. Distribution equipment 214 may include, for example,
suitable transmission hardware for distributing application data on
a television channel sideband, in the vertical blanking interval of
a television channel, using an out-of-band digital signal, or by
any other suitable data transmission technique. Distribution
equipment 214 may transmit analog or digital signals including
fantasy sports contest application data to user equipment 210 on,
for example, multiple television channels.
[0090] In some embodiments of the present invention, distribution
equipment 214 may include one or more servers capable of providing,
in response to an application client request, application data for
the fantasy sports contest application to user equipment 210. For
example, distribution equipment 214 may include one or more servers
capable of providing data for fantasy sports contests and wagering
opportunities and wagers to user-equipment 210 using any suitable
approach (e.g., on-demand, in a carousel-based approach, etc.).
[0091] In some embodiments of the present invention, distribution
equipment 214 may communicate application data with user equipment
210 via the Internet using an internet service system. For example,
distribution equipment 214 may communicate statistics data (e.g.,
used to determine fantasy sports contest standings and wagering
opportunities and outcomes) received from main facility 202 or
other suitable facility to user equipment 210 via the Internet. In
some embodiments of the present invention, distribution equipment
214 may receive application data via the Internet and may
distribute the data to user equipment 210 (e.g., via the Internet,
via satellite, or via any other suitable wired or wireless path or
combination of such paths).
[0092] Television distribution facility 206 may transmit
application data for the fantasy sports contest application to user
equipment 210 using any suitable approach. For example, television
distribution facility 206 may transmit application data to user
equipment 210 periodically, continuously (e.g., in a real-time data
stream, using a carousel-based approach, etc.), on-demand, or using
any other suitable approach or combination of approaches.
[0093] In some embodiments of the present invention, data sources
may be located at facilities separate from main facility 202. For
example, external information service 316 may provide data to main
facility 202 via communications path 218 for distribution. External
information service 216 may be any facility suitable for providing
application data (e.g., for the fantasy sports contest application,
for one or more wagering applications that interfaces with the
fantasy sports contest application, etc.) to main facility 202.
There may be multiple installations of external information service
216. However, only one installation of external information service
216 is shown in FIG. 2 to avoid over-complicating the drawing.
Communications path 218 may be one or more satellite communications
paths, fiber-optic paths, coaxial cable paths, radio frequency
paths, electromagnetic communications paths, microwave
communications paths, Internet paths, or any other suitable wired
or wireless communications paths or combination of such paths.
Communications path 218 may have sufficient bandwidth to transmit
video signals.
[0094] External information service 316 may contain external data
source 220. External data source 220 may be any suitable computer
or computer-based system for generating, storing, or obtaining
application data (e.g., manually from an operator, electronically
via a computer network or other connection, or via storage media)
and putting the data into electronic form for distribution to main
facility 202 or other facility.
[0095] In some embodiments of the present invention, external
information service 216 may provide statistics data, rules data,
contest data, wagering data or any other application data to main
facility 202. For example, external information service 216 may be
a statistics service that provides real-life sports statistics data
to main facility 202. The statistics data may be used, for example,
to calculate fantasy sports contest league standings and to
determine wagering opportunities and outcomes. As another example,
external information service 216 may be a rules service that
provides rules data to main facility 202. The rules data may be
used, for example, to determine whether a fantasy sports contestant
is permitted to wager for money, non-cash prizes, fantasy sports
contest points or points redeemable for prizes based on the user's
geographical location, account information, or any other
information or combination of such information. Still another
example, external information service 216 may be a wagering service
that provides wagering data (e.g., data indicating wagering
opportunities, wager terms, etc.) to main facility 202. The
wagering data may be used to, for example, determine wagering
opportunities and outcomes, determine whether a user has deposited
sufficient funds to the user's account for wagering, and to
determine whether a user should be otherwise restricted from
wagering (e.g., a user with a history for failing to settle lost
wagers). In some embodiments of the present invention, external
information service 216 may provide application data directly to
one or more of television distribution facility 206 and user
equipment 210. In some embodiments of the present invention,
external information service 210 may be a tote used in pari-mutuel
wagering or other wagering server that keeps track of wagering
pay-offs.
[0096] The fantasy sports contest application may be implemented at
any suitable location in system 200. For example, the fantasy
sports contest application may be implemented at user equipment
210, at television distribution facility 206, at main facility 202,
at any other suitable location (that is not necessarily shown in
system 200), or at any combination thereof. Certain portions of the
fantasy sports contest application may be implemented at user
equipment 210 (e.g., those portions that implement features
involved in user interaction), whereas certain other portions of
the fantasy sports contest application may be implemented at main
facility 202, television distribution facility 200, or external
information service 216 (e.g., those portions that implement
features involved in the processing of client requests and in the
tracking of the performance of fantasy sports contestants). Any
such suitable arrangement of the fantasy sports contest application
may be implemented in accordance with the present invention.
[0097] Referring to both FIGS. 2 and 3, FIG. 3 shows an
illustrative arrangement of user equipment 210 in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention. User equipment 210 may
receive analog or digital programming (e.g., television
programming, pay-per-view programming, video-on-demand programming,
etc) and fantasy sports contest application data at input 302 from
television distribution facility 206, main facility 202, external
information service 216, or any other suitable equipment or a
combination thereof, depending on the chosen implementation.
[0098] During normal television viewing, a user may tune set-top
box 304 to a desired television channel. The signal for that
television channel may then be provided at video output 306. The
signal supplied at output 306 is typically either a radio-frequency
(RF) signal on a predefined channel (e.g., channel 3 or 4), or an
analog demodulated video signal, but may also be a digital signal
provided on an appropriate digital bus (e.g., a bus using the
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394
standard (not shown)). The video signal at output 306 may be
received by secondary storage device 308, which may be an optional
component in the embodiment of FIG. 3.
[0099] Set-top box 304 may have memory 310. Memory 310 may be any
memory or other storage device, such as a random access memory
(RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, a hard disk drive, a
combination of such devices, or any memory suitable for storing
application instructions and application data for use by the
fantasy sports contest application.
[0100] Set-top box 304 may have communications device 312 for
communicating directly with distribution facility 206, main
facility 202, external information service 216, or any other
suitable equipment or a combination thereof, over suitable
communications paths. Communications device 312 may be a modem
(e.g., cable modem, telephone modem, digital subscriber line (DSL)
modem, integrated service digital network (ISDN) modem, or any
suitable analog or digital modem), network interface card (e.g., an
Ethernet card, etc.), or other suitable communications device.
Communications device 312 may also be a personal computer with an
Internet connection if, for example, distribution equipment 214 or
other suitable equipment communicates data with user equipment 210
via the Internet. In some embodiments, communications device 312
may be a component of television 314.
[0101] Optional secondary storage device 308 may be any suitable
type of analog or digital program storage device or player (e.g., a
videocassette recorder (VCR), a personal video recorder (PVR), a
digital versatile disc (DVD) player, etc). In some embodiments of
the present invention, data for fantasy sports contests and
wagering opportunities and wagers may be stored in secondary
storage device 308. Program recording (e.g., recording of sporting
events that are related to a contestant's fantasy sports contest or
wagers) and other features may be controlled by set-top box 304
using control path 316. If secondary storage device 308 is a
videocassette recorder or a personal video recorder, for example, a
typical control path 316 may involve the use of an infrared
transmitter coupled to the infrared receiver in the recorder that
normally accepts commands from a remote control such as remote
control 318. Remote control 318 may be used to control set-top box
304, secondary storage device 308, and television 314.
[0102] The fantasy sports contest application may run on set-top
box 304, television 314 (provided that television 314 has suitable
processing circuitry and memory) a suitable analog or digital
receiver (not shown) connected to television 314, or digital
storage device 320 if digital storage device 320 has suitable
processing circuitry and memory. The fantasy sports contest
application may also run cooperatively on a suitable combination of
these devices.
[0103] If desired, a user may record programming (e.g., television
programs, pay-per-view programs, video-on-demand (VOD) programs,
non-video-on-demand programs, etc.) in digital form on digital
storage device 320. Digital storage device 320 may also record data
for fantasy sports contests and wagering opportunities and wagers
including, for example, statistics data and rules data. Digital
storage device 320 may be contained in set-top box 304 or it may be
an external device connected to set-top box 304 via an input/output
port and appropriate interface. Digital storage device 320 may be a
writeable optical storage device (such as a DVD player capable of
handling recordable DVD discs), a magnetic storage device (such as
a disk drive or digital tape), or any other digital storage
device.
[0104] Processing circuitry in set-top box 304 may format received
video, audio and data signals into a digital file format. The file
format may be an open file format such as the Moving Picture
Experts Group (MPEG) MPEG-2 standard or the Moving Joint
Photographic Experts Group (MJPEG) standard. The resulting data may
be streamed to and stored in digital storage device 320, secondary
storage device 308, or other storage device via an appropriate bus
(not shown) (e.g., a bus using the Institute Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1304 standard). In some embodiments,
an MPEG-2 data stream or series of files may be received from
television distribution facility 206, main facility 202, external
information service 216, or other equipment and stored by digital
storage device 320 or secondary storage device 308.
[0105] Television 314 may receive video signals from secondary
storage device 308 via communications path 332. The video signals
on communications path 323 may either be generated by secondary
storage device 303 when playing back a prerecorded storage medium
(e.g., a videocassette or a recordable digital video disc), by
digital storage device 320 when playing back a prerecorded digital
medium, may be passed through from set-top box 304, may be provided
directly to television 314 from set-top box 304 if secondary
storage device 308 is not included in user television equipment
210, or may be received directly by television 314 from any other
suitable facility or location (e.g., main facility 202). During
normal television viewing, the video signals provided to television
314 may correspond to the desired channel to which a user has tuned
with set-top box 304. Video signals may also be provided to
television 314 by set-top box 304 when set-top box 304 is used to
play back information stored on digital storage device 320.
[0106] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, FIG. 4 is an illustrative schematic
block diagram of portions of user equipment (120, 210) in
accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.
Fantasy sports contest data and wagering data from server 102, data
sources 104, 106, 108 and 110, television distribution facility
206, main facility 202, external information service 216, or other
suitable equipment or combination thereof may be received by
control circuitry 402 or received by communications device 404 and
provided to control circuitry 402.
[0107] Control circuitry 402 may include a processor or processing
circuitry for receiving and processing application instructions for
the fantasy sports contest application. Control circuitry 402 may
include any suitable processor, such as a microprocessor or group
of microprocessors, and other processing circuitry such as caching
circuitry, direct memory access (DMA) circuitry, input/output (I/O)
circuitry, etc. For example, control circuitry 402 may process
application instructions to generate application display screens.
The functions of control circuitry 902 stay be integrated into an
advanced television receiver, personal computer television (PC/TV),
or any other suitable arrangement. If desired, a combination of
such arrangements may be used.
[0108] Digital storage device 406 and secondary storage device 408
may record media (e.g., television programming if fantasy sports
contests and wagering opportunities are provided in an interactive
television platform) and store data for fantasy sports contests and
wagering opportunities and wagers. For example, secondary storage
device 408 may be any suitable type of analog or digital program
storage device (e.g., a videocassette recorder (VCR), a personal
video recorder (PVR), a digital versatile disc (DVD), etc.).
Digital storage device 406 may be, for example, a writeable optical
storage device (such as a DVD player capable of handling recordable
DVD discs), a magnetic storage device (such as a disk drive or
digital tape), or any other digital storage device. In embodiments
in which the fantasy sports contest application is provided in an
interactive television arrangement, program recording and other
features may be controlled by control circuitry 402. For example,
in response to commands from a user, control circuitry 402 may
instruct secondary storage device 408 and digital storage device
406 to record television programming for events that affect fantasy
sports contest league standings and wagering outcomes.
[0109] Memory 410 may be any memory or other storage device, such
as a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash
memory, a hard dish drive, a combination of such devices, etc.,
that is suitable for storing fantasy sports contest data and
wagering data for use by control circuitry 402.
[0110] Communications device 404 may support communications between
user equipment 120 and server 102, or any other suitable equipment
or combination of equipment. In embodiments in which the fantasy
sports contest application is implemented an interactive television
arrangement, communications device 404 may support communications
between user equipment 210 and distribution equipment 214, main
facility 202, external information service 216, or any other
suitable equipment or combination of equipment. Communications
device 404 may be a modem (e.g., a cable modem, digital subscriber
line (DSL) modem, telephone modem, integrated services digital
network (ISDN) modem, or any suitable analog or digital modem),
network interface card (e.g., an Ethernet card, Token ring card,
etc.), or any other suitable communication device.
[0111] User input device 412 may be any suitable input device for
allowing a user to communicate to the fantasy sports contest
application. For example, a user may make a fantasy sports contest
team selection or accept a wagering opportunity from an application
display screen (e.g., indicate a fantasy sports contest application
option) using user input device 412. User input device 412 way be a
pointing device, wireless remote control, keyboard, touch-pad,
voice recognition system, or any other suitable user input device.
User-entered instructions from user input device 412 may instruct
control circuitry 402 to direct an audio device (not shown) to
provide audio (e.g., music, talk-radio, television audio, etc.).
During normal television viewing (i.e., when the fantasy sports
contest application is implemented in an interactive television
arrangement), user-entered instructions from user input device 412
may instruct control circuitry 402 to direct display device 414 to
display a desired television channel on display device 414. Display
device 414 may be any suitable display device such as a personal
computer monitor, a television, or a PC/TV. To provide a user with
fantasy sports contest options and wagering options, the fantasy
sports contest application running on user equipment 210 (FIG. 2)
may generate, for example, fantasy sports contest application
information display screens for display on display device 414.
[0112] Referring to both FIGS. 1 and 2, client/server system 100
and interactive television system 200 can incorporate security
systems to insure the confidentiality of communications, the
integrity of data, the identification and authentication of the
sender of data, access control over what may be done with the data
(e.g., not providing data for wagering opportunities for money in
geographic regions in which wagering for money is not legally
permitted) and non-repudiation measures to prevent a party from
backing out of a transaction (e.g., having the user confirm a
wager, storing redundant data for wagers in more than one location
or by more than one party, etc.). In particular, systems 100 and
200 may incorporate various security systems in connection
communications sent over, for example, one or more of
communications paths 112, 114, 116, 118, 122, 218, 208 and 212. For
example, for the confidentiality of communications, systems 100 and
200 may use well-known cryptographic methods such as encrypting
data with symmetric keys and non-symmetric keys (e.g.,
public/private key cryptosystems). Cryptographic algorithms that
can be used may include, for example, RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman),
Rabin, Diffie-Hellman, DSS (digital signature standard), DES (data
encryption standard), or any other suitable algorithms or
combination of such algorithms.
[0113] Systems 100 and 200 may use techniques including using
cryptographic checksums, digital signatures, secure socket layer
and other techniques to verify the integrity of data. For example,
data received by user equipment (120, 210), server 102, television
distribution facility 206 or any other equipment can be signed and
its integrity can be checked using techniques such as hashing,
exchanging keys, and checking digital certificates by a third party
(e.g., VeriSign, Inc. provides services for securing web sites such
as its object signing digital ID service for Java which allows end
users to confirm the source and integrity of received content).
[0114] Systems 100 and 200 may use various techniques to identify
and authenticate the sender of data (e.g., a user of user equipment
(120, 210), server 102, etc.). For example, the identity of a user
of user equipment (120, 210) can be signaled by requiring that the
user enter his password, user ID, card key or other suitable means
of identification (e.g., a fingerprint or some other observational
technique that identifies as individual, entering a token ID that
dynamically changes and is displayed on a token, etc.) or
combination thereof.
[0115] The security features of systems 100 and 200 can be
implemented utilizing support from, for example, hardware (e.g.,
secure processor operating modes), an operating system (e.g.,
secure processes, memory, file systems and devices), and an
application (e.g., a signed application running in a trusted
computing environment). The security features of systems 100 and
200 can also be implemented using the services of digital rights
management (DRM) system that is integrated into an operating system
or otherwise added to an end-user computing environment (e.g., at
user equipment (120, 210)). Data which is to protected by the
rights system can be sent in secure containers or objects protected
using the confidentiality and integrity techniques described
above.
[0116] Referring to both FIGS. 1 and 2, any suitable facility or
location may define wagering opportunities for fantasy sports
contestants. In some embodiments of the present invention, server
102 may define wagering opportunities for fantasy sports
contestants. For example, server 102 may define (e.g., manually via
a system operator or automatically using any suitable criteria)
wagering opportunities for fantasy sports contestants based on
statistics data received from statistics data source 106 or other
source of statistics data. In some embodiments of the present
invention, the fantasy sports contest application may define
wagering opportunities based on data input via user input device
412 (FIG. 4) or other suitable user interface. In some embodiments
of the present invention (i.e., in which the fantasy sports contest
application is provided in an interactive television arrangement),
main facility 202 or external information service 216 may define
wagering opportunities for a fantasy sports contestant. For
example, main facility 202 or external information service may
define wagering opportunities based on rules data stored in data
sources 204 and 220 (e.g., data indicating whether a user is
permitted to wager).
[0117] User equipment (120, 210) may request or otherwise receive
application data for various types of wagering opportunities. for
example, user equipment 120 may receive data for various types of
wagering opportunities from server 102, from data sources 104, 106,
108 and 110 (e.g., each having one or more servers), and from user
input device 412 (FIG. 4). As another example, user equipment 210
may receive data for various types of wagering opportunities from
user input device 412 (FIG. 4) or a server included as part of
distribution equipment 214 or external information service 216. In
some embodiments of the present invention, user equipment (120,
210) may receive application data for wagering opportunities
between various parties including fantasy sports contestants who
participate in various fantasy sports contest leagues. A fantasy
sports contest league may be a sub-division of a fantasy sports
contest, the contest comprising other fantasy sports contests
(e.g., a fantasy sports NBA Basketball contest may comprise
multiple individual fantasy sports MBA Basketball contest leagues
and may induce fantasy competition between members of the
individual different leagues). For example, in some embodiments of
the present invention, user equipment (120, 210) may receive data
for intra-fantasy sports contest league ("intra-league") wagering
opportunities. Intra-league wagering opportunities are
opportunities to wager between contestants of the same fantasy
sports contest league or wagering opportunities for fantasy sports
contest points between a contestant of a fantasy sports contest
league and the fantasy sports contest application system. The
fantasy sports contest application may provide opportunities to
view, propose, accept and otherwise manage intra-league wagering
opportunities to fantasy sports contestants.
[0118] In some embodiments of the present invention, intra-league
wagering opportunities may be based on one or more fantasy sports
contestants' performance in a fantasy sports contest. For example,
an intra-league wagering opportunity between a user who
participates in a fantasy sports contest league and one or more
other contestants of that fantasy sports contest league may be
based on whether the user will accumulate the most fantasy sports
contest points (e.g., by the conclusion of a particular week of a
fantasy sports contest league, by the conclusion of the entire
fantasy sports contest league, etc.). As another example, an
infra-league wager between a user of a particular fantasy sports
contest and the fantasy sports contest application system may be
based on whether the user wins the fantasy sports contest of which
the user's fantasy sports contest league is a sub-division.
[0119] In some embodiments of the present invention, intra-league
wagering opportunities may be based on real-life sporting events
chat are related to contestants' fantasy sports contest leagues.
For example, intra-league wagering opportunities between
contestants of the same fantasy sports NFL football contest league
may be based, on NFL football events (e.g., the outcome of a
particular game or group of games, the outcome of a particular
quarter, the outcome of a particular possession, the outcome of a
particular field goal attempt, the outcome of a televised NFL
draft, etc.). As another example, intra-league wagering
opportunities between a contestant of a fantasy Major League
Baseball contest league and the fantasy sports contest application
system may be based on real-life Major League Baseball events.
[0120] In some embodiments of the present invention, intra-league
wagering opportunities may be based on real-life sporting events
and other events that are unrelated to contestants' fantasy sports
contest leagues. For example, intra-league wagering opportunities
between contestants of the same fantasy soccer league may be based
on Major League Baseball events. Intra-league wagering
opportunities may be based on any other events that are unrelated
to contestants' fantasy sports contests leagues and that can be
wagered on such as, for example, televised events, broadcasted
events, or events that are otherwise made public (e.g., the Grammy
awards).
[0121] In some embodiments of the present invention, user equipment
(120, 210) may receive data for inter-fantasy sports contest league
("inter-league") wagering opportunities. Inter-league wagering
opportunities are opportunities to wager between different fantasy
sports contest leagues or between contestants of different fantasy
sports contest leagues. The fantasy sports contest application may
provide opportunities to view, propose, accept and otherwise manage
inter-league wagering opportunities.
[0122] In some embodiments of the present invention, inter-league
wagering opportunities may be based on one or more fantasy sports
contestants' performance in a fantasy sports contest. For example,
inter-league wagering opportunities between one or more contestants
of a first fantasy sports contest league and one or more
contestants of a second fantasy sports contest league may be based
on which league will perform better in its corresponding fantasy
sports contest (e.g., the first and second fantasy sports contest
leagues being of the same type and sub-divisions of the same
fantasy sports contest).
[0123] In some embodiments of the present invention, inter-league
wagering opportunities may be based on real-life sporting events
that are related to contestants' fantasy sports contest leagues.
For example, inter-league wagering opportunities between a first
fantasy Major League Baseball contest league and second fantasy
Major League Baseball contest league may be based on real-life
Major League Baseball events.
[0124] In some embodiments of the present invention, inter-league
wagering opportunities may be based on events that are unrelated to
contestants' fantasy sports contest leagues. For example,
inter-league wagering opportunities between fantasy sports contest
leagues or contestants of fantasy sports contest leagues may be
based on trivia contests, televised game shows, quiz shows, or
other events that are unrelated contestants' fantasy sports contest
leagues.
[0125] In some embodiments of the present invention, inter-league
wagering opportunities between one or more contestants of a first
fantasy sports contest league and one or more contestants of a
second fantasy sports contest league may be based on events that
are related to only the first fantasy sports contest league. For
example, inter-league wagering opportunities between a contestant
of a fantasy college football contest league and a contestant of a
fantasy soccer contest league may be based on real-life college
football events.
[0126] In some embodiments of the present invention, user equipment
(120, 210) may receive data for out-of-fantasy sports contest
league ("out-of-league") wagering opportunities. Out-of-league
wagering opportunities include all wagering opportunities that are
not intra-league wagering opportunities and inter-league wagering
opportunities. The fantasy sports contest application may provide
opportunities to view, propose, accept and otherwise manage
out-of-league wagering opportunities.
[0127] In some embodiments of the present invention, out-of-league
wagering opportunities may be based on events that are related to
contestants' fantasy sports contest leagues. For example,
out-of-league wagering opportunities (e.g., wagering opportunities
based on defined wagering odds or spreads) between a contestant of
a fantasy sports contest league and a wagering service or a
non-fantasy sports contestant (e.g., a user of the fantasy sports
contest application that is not currently involved in a fantasy
sports contest) may be based on events that are related to that
fantasy sports contest league.
[0128] In some embodiments of the present invention, out-of-league
wagering opportunities may be based on events that are unrelated to
fantasy sports contest leagues. For example, out-of league wagering
opportunities between a contestant of a fantasy flag or League
Baseball contest league and a wagering service may be based on
real-life Minor League baseball events.
[0129] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to fantasy sports
contestants the ability to wager for fantasy sports contest points.
For example, the fantasy sports contest application may provide to
contestants of the same fantasy sports contest league (i.e.,
intra-league wagering opportunities) the ability to wager for
fantasy sports contest points to enhance league competition and
user-enjoyment. As another example, the fantasy sports contest
application may provide to contestants of different fantasy sports
contest leagues (i.e., inter-league wagering opportunities) that
are competing to accumulate the most fantasy sports contest points
the ability to wager for fantasy sports contest points.
[0130] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to fantasy sports
contestants the ability to wager for money. For example, the
fantasy sports contest application may provide to a user who
participates in a fantasy sports contest the ability to wager one
or more other fantasy sports contestants for money based on the
user's performance in the fantasy sports contest. As another
example, because fantasy sports contestants may track closely
real-life sporting events (e.g., that may be both related and
unrelated to the contestants' fantasy sports contest leagues), and
because the contestants may find it desirable to wager on these
events, the fantasy sports contest stay provide to fantasy sports
contestants the ability to wager for money based on real-life
sporting events.
[0131] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to fantasy sports
contestants the ability to wager for prizes (i.e., non-cash
prizes). For example, because wagering for money may not be legally
permitted in particular geographic regions, to fantasy sports
contestants of these geographical regions the ability to wager for
prizes. As another example, the fantasy sports contest application
may provide to contestants who prefer to wager for prizes the
ability to wager for prizes (e.g., gift certificates, free
subscriptions to the fantasy sports contest application service, a
trophy, etc.).
[0132] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to fantasy sports
contestants the ability to wager for points redeemable for prizes.
For example, because fantasy sports contestants (e.g., of different
fantasy sports contest leagues) may live in geographical regions in
which monetary currencies are different, the fantasy sports contest
application may provide to fantasy sports contestants the ability
to wager for points redeemable for cash prizes to allow the
contestants of the different geographical regions to better
understand wagering opportunity terms (e.g., wagering opportunity
amount). As another example, the fantasy sports contest application
may provide to fantasy sports contestants in geographical regions
in which wagering for money is not legally permitted the ability to
wager for points redeemable for non-cash prizes.
[0133] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to fantasy sports
contestants the ability to wager based on outcomes of single
events. For example, the fantasy sports contest application may
provide to fantasy sports contestants the ability to wager based on
an outcome of a single sporting event or a portion of a single
sporting event (e.g., a winner of a baseball game, whether a
particular player gets a hit during a particular at-bat in a
baseball game, a winner of an automobile race, etc). As another
example, the fantasy sports contest application may provide to
fantasy sports contestants the ability to wager based on an outcome
of a single non-sports event or a portion of a single non-sports
event (e.g., the winner or the Oscar Award for "Best Movie",
whether a contestant in a televised game show answers a particular
question correctly, etc.).
[0134] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to fantasy sports
contestants the ability to wager based on more than one event. For
example, the fantasy sports contest application may provide to
fantasy sports contestants the ability to wager based on more than
one sporting event (e.g., a wagering pool for the World Series or
NCAA Basketball tournament, how close a particular baseball player
will come to breaking the record for longest hitting streak,
etc.).
[0135] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to fantasy sports
contestants the ability to wager for a predefined wagering
opportunity amount. For example, the fantasy sports contest
application may provide to fantasy sports contestants the ability
to wager on a sporting event for a predefined amount of money
(e.g., $10). As another example, the fantasy sports contest
application may provide to fantasy sports contestants the ability
to wager on a non-sports event for a predefined amount of points
(e.g., 15 points) redeemable for prizes.
[0136] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to fantasy sports
contestants the ability to wager based on defined odds or spreads.
For example, the fantasy sports contest application may provide to
fantasy sports contestants the ability to wager on a non-sports
event in which the payout is determined by the number and
disposition (i.e., wagering choice) of wagerers that accept the
wagering opportunity (i.e., a pari-mutuel, type wagering
opportunity). As another example, the fantasy sports contest
application may provide to fantasy sports contestants the ability
to wager on a sporting event in which a certain team or player must
clear a defined spread (e.g., a point spread for a basketball game,
a number of strikeouts for a baseball pitcher) for a wagerer to win
the wager.
[0137] The fantasy sports contest application (e.g., implemented at
least partially on user equipment (120, 210) may change its
displays and available options based on application data for
fantasy sports contests and wagering opportunities and wagers.
FIGS. 5-10 and 12-39 show various fantasy sports contest
application display screens in accordance with various embodiments
of the present invention. The display screens of FIGS. 5-10 and
12-39 are only illustrative. Any other suitable user interface
approach may be used.
[0138] FIG. 5 shows an illustrative fantasy sports contest
application system options display screen 500. Display screen 500
may be displayed in response to initialization, (e.g., boot-up) of
the fantasy sports contest application, a user selection of a
remote control key (e.g., using remote control 318 (FIG. 3)) to
view fantasy sports contest options information, or any other user
selection to view fantasy sports contest application options
information. The fantasy sports contest application may enable
wagering options and features (e.g., intra-league wagering,
inter-league wagering, wagering for points, wagering for money,
etc.) for a user in response to a user selection or indication of
enable wagering option 502. For example, in embodiments of the
present invention in which the fantasy sports contest application
is fully operative to provide fantasy sports contests and wagering
opportunities, the fantasy sports contest application may include
wagering options and features in various fantasy sports contest
application display screens in response to a user selection of
enable wagering option 502. As another example, in embodiments of
the present invention in which the fantasy sports contest
application interfaces with one or more wagering applications to
provide fantasy sports contests with wagering opportunities, the
fantasy sports contest application may provide to a user various
opportunities to access the one or more wagering applications from
fantasy sports contest application display screens in response to a
user selection of enable wagering option 502. In other embodiments
of the present invention, the fantasy sports contest application
may display separate options to enable various types of wagering
(e.g., intra-league wagering, inter-league wagering, wagering for
points, wagering for money, etc.). Also in other embodiments of the
present invention, the fantasy sports contest application may
enable wagering options and features for a user at all times, by
default, or may determine for the user whether wagering options and
features are enabled (e.g., based on laws governing a user's
geographical region).
[0139] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to set
a password. The password may prevent others from tampering with a
user's fantasy sports contest settings and wagering settings. For
example, in response to a user selection of option 504, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to
enter a desired password into data region 506 and re-enter the
password into data region 508. The fantasy sports contest
application may set the password entered into data regions 506 and
508 in response to a user selection of "OK" option 510 or other
option indicating a user confirmation of the password entered into
data regions 506 and 508 (e.g., an "Enter" key of remote control
318 (FIG. 3)). In other embodiments of the present invention, the
fantasy sports contest application may determine a password for the
user. In embodiments of the present invention in which the fantasy
sports contest application interfaces with one or more wagering
applications to provide fantasy sports contests with wagering
opportunities, a first user password may prevent others from
tampering with a user's fantasy sports contest settings and a
second user-password may prevent others from tampering with a
user's wagering settings.
[0140] FIG. 6 shows an illustrative password confirmation display
screen 600. The fantasy sports contest application may display
overlay 602 to indicate that a user password has been set by the
fantasy sports contest application. The fantasy sports contest
application may remove overlay 602 from display screen 600 in
response to user selection of "OK." option 604. In other
embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy sports contest
application may display information confirming a user password in a
separate display screen, in a separate region of display screen
600, or in any other suitable arrangement. In embodiments in which
the fantasy sports contest application interfaces with one or more
wagering applications to provide fantasy sports contests and
wagering opportunities, the one or more wagering applications may
display information for password confirmation in any other suitable
arrangement in wagering application display screens (which may be
integrated into fantasy sports contest application display
screens).
[0141] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to
view and edit fantasy sports contest and wagering settings. For
example, returning to FIG. 5, the fantasy sports contest
application may display option 512 to view and edit fantasy sports
contest and wagering settings. In other embodiments of the present
invention, a first option to view and edit fantasy sports contest
settings and a second option to view and edit wagering settings may
be displayed to the user.
[0142] In some embodiments of the present invention, a user may be
required to enter a password to view and edit fantasy sports
contest and wagering settings. FIG. 7 shows an illustrative
password entry display screen 700. Referring to both FIGS. 5 and 7,
the fantasy sports contest application may display password entry
overlay 702 in response to a user selection of option 512 to
view/edit fantasy sports contest and wagering settings. A user may
fee required to enter a valid password (e.g., the password entered
by the user in data regions 506 and 508, a password determined for
the user, a first password for fantasy sports contest settings, a
second password for wagering settings, etc.) into data region 704
and subsequently select "Enter" option 706 to view and edit fantasy
sports contest and wagering settings.
[0143] FIG. 8 shows an illustrative fantasy sports contest and
wagering settings display screen 800. Referring to both FIGS. 5 and
8, the fantasy sports contest application may display display
screen 800 in response to a user selection of option 512 (FIG. 5)
or other option to view and edit fantasy sports contests and
wagering settings (e.g., initialization of the fantasy sports
contest application). Display screen 800 may include options and
settings for a user's fantasy sports contests and wagering
opportunities and wagers. In embodiments in which the fantasy
sports contest application is fully operative to provide fantasy
sports contests with wagering opportunities, the fantasy sports
application contest may use application data to define wagering
opportunities and to include wagering information in various
fantasy sports contest application display screens such as display
screen 800. Alternatively, in embodiments in which the fantasy
sports contest application interfaces with one or more wagering
applications to provide fantasy sports with wagering opportunities,
the fantasy sports contest application may direct the one or more
wagering applications to display wagering information in, for
example, a display region of a fantasy sports contest application
display screen or in separate wagering application display
screens.
[0144] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may display to a fantasy sports
contestant the contestant's personal fantasy sports contest
statistics. For example, in response to a user selection of option
802 (or by default in response to, for example, a user selection of
option 512 (FIG. 5) to view/edit fantasy sports contest and
wagering settings), the fantasy sports contest application may
display information indicating a contestant's performance in an
active fantasy sports contest league (i.e., a user's fantasy sports
contest league which the user has selected to view league data or a
user's fantasy sports contest league which is the default
selection) in display region 804. In this example, highlight region
806 indicates that fantasy baseball contest league "Friends
Baseball" 808 is the active fantasy sports contest league. Display
region 804 may include information for a particular contestant
including, for example, members of a contestant's fantasy sports
contest team roster 810, fantasy sports contest league point total
for a current week 812, fantasy sports contest league point total
for the season 814, fantasy sports contest league standing for a
current week 816, fantasy sports contest league standing for the
season 818 and any other fantasy sports contest data for a
particular contestant. In some embodiments of the present
invention, display region 804 may include other data for the user
such as real-life statistics for the members of the user's team
roster 810. In some embodiments of the present invention, the
information of display region 804 or any other fantasy sports
contest information or wagering information may be displayed in an
overlay, in a separate display screen, or in any other display
arrangement (e.g., a split-screen containing information for
fantasy sports contests in a first region and information for
wagering opportunities and wagers in a second region).
[0145] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may display information for different
types of fantasy sports contest leagues. For example, icon 820
indicates that fantasy sports contest league 808 is a private
league (e.g., a league organized by and consisting of a group of
friends, colleagues, etc.). Membership to a private fantasy sports
contest league may be controlled by, for example, a league
commissioner of the fantasy sports content league. As another
example, icon 822 indicates that fantasy soccer contest league
"World Cup Soccer" 824 is a national league (i.e., a league
organized by the fantasy sports contest application system and
consisting of contestants who may or may not know each other). The
fantasy sports contest application may indicate different types of
fantasy sports contest leagues using any other suitable method
(e.g., displaying data for different types of leagues in different
colors). For example, the fantasy sports contest application may
use any suitable display means to distinguish leagues utilizing
pari-mutuel wagering and leagues that utilize fixed odds for
wagering. The fantasy sports contest application may provide to a
user an opportunity to start or participate in a new fantasy sports
contest league and may allow a user to define various fantasy
sports contest and wagering options and settings for the new
fantasy sports contest league (e.g., whether the league is private
or national, whether and how the winners of a fantasy sports
contest league will be compensated, other fantasy sports contest
and wagering settings, etc.) in response to a user selection of
option 825 to start a new fantasy sports contest league.
[0146] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may display to a fantasy sports
contestant league standings for a fantasy sports contest league.
FIG. 9 shows an illustrative fantasy sports contest league
standings display screen 900. Referring to both FIGS. 8 and 9, the
fantasy sports contest application may display league standings for
current week 902 and season 904 of active league 808 in display
region 906 in response to a user selection of option 826 to view
league standings. As shown in FIG. 9, contestant "Jim" 908 may be
in first place for "week 4" 902 of the fantasy sports contest
league season and contestant "Dave" 910 may be in first place for
the overall fantasy sports contest league season. In this example,
the scoring system of active fantasy sports contest league "Friends
Baseball" 808 may be a straight point scoring system (e.g., points
are awarded and subtracted based on real-life plays without regard
to the performance of other contestants in the user's fantasy
sports contest league) or a rotisserie scoring system (e.g., points
are awarded based on the user's relative ranking against other
users). In other examples, the scoring system may foe a
head-to-head scoring system (e.g., users in a league are matched
against one another in a round-robin series of one-on-one contests
during the course of a season) or any other suitable scoring system
or combination of such scoring systems. Arrow 912 may indicate that
additional league standings or other fantasy sports contest and
wagering data are available for viewing (e.g., in response to a
user pressing a "Down" key of remote control 318 (FIG. 3)).
[0147] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to
view league rules for a fantasy sports contest league. FIG. 10
shows an illustrative fantasy sports contest league rules display
screen 1000. Referring to both FIGS. 8 and 10, the fantasy sports
contest application may display in display region 1002 league rules
for active league 808 in response to a user selection of option 828
to view league rules. Display region 1002 may include information
for rules of a fantasy sports contest league such as a team salary
cap 1004 for the contestant as fantasy sports contest team, a limit
on the number of fantasy sports contest player trades in a week
1006, a limit on the number of fantasy sports contest player trades
in a season 1008, whether intra-league wagering is enabled 1010,
whether inter-league wagering is enabled 1012, whether
out-of-league wagering is enabled 1014, a limit on the amount of
intra-league wagering in a week 1016, a limit on the amount of
inter-league wagering in a week 1018, a limit on the amount of
out-of-league wagering in a week 1020 (e.g., each of limits 1016,
1018 and 1020 expressed as a maximum, number or amount of points,
money, prize value, etc.) or any other rules for a fantasy sports
contest league (e.g., a price that is charged to the user for each
trade of a fantasy sports contest team selection and that
accumulates to increase the reward for the winner of the user's
fantasy sports contest league). Arrow 1022 may indicate that
information for other rules and other fantasy sports contest and
wagering information are available for viewing by the user. The
fantasy sports contest application may, for example, use
application data to define wagering opportunities and to display
wagering options and settings for a user in fantasy sports contest
application display screens such as display screen 1000.
[0148] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may direct one or more wagering
applications to display wagering information in, for example, a
region of a fantasy sports contest application display screen or in
a separate wagering application display screen in response to user
selection from a fantasy sports contest application display screen.
For example, a wagering application that interfaces with the
fantasy sports contest application may display wagering rules
information in display region 1002 in response to a user selection
of option 828 to view league rules. FIG, 11 shows an illustrative
wagering application display screen 1100. Referring to both FIGS. 8
and 11, as another example, the fantasy sports contest application
may direct a wagering application that interfaces with the fantasy
sports contest application to display wagering rules information
for a particular fantasy sports contest league and contestant in
display screen 1100 in response to a user selection of option 828
to view league rules. In this example, display screen 1100 may
include wagering rules information for active fantasy sports
contest league "Friends Baseball" (808, 1102) such as whether
intra-league wagering is enabled 1104, whether inter-league
wagering is enabled 1106, whether out-of-league wagering is enabled
1108, a limit on the amount of intra-league wagering in a week
1110, a limit on the amount of inter-league wagering in a week
1112, a limit on the amount of out-of-league wagering in a week
1114 (e.g., each of limits 1110, 1112 and 1114 expressed as a
maximum number or amount of points, money, prize value, etc) or any
other wagering rules for active fantasy sports contest league
"Friends Baseball" (808, 1102). The information of display screen
1100 is only illustrative. One or more wagering applications that
interlace with the fantasy sports contest application may display
various other wagering information in separate wagering application
display screens that are similar to display screen 1002 or in
display regions of various fantasy sports contest application
display screens (e.g., display region 1002 (FIG. 10)). The display
arrangement of display screen 1100 is only illustrative. Any other
suitable display arrangement may be used to display information for
fantasy sports contests and wagering opportunities and wagers. For
example, wagering information tor wagering opportunities and wagers
may be displayed in one or more overlays that overlay information
for fantasy sports contests (e.g., or vice-versa)
[0149] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to
edit rules for a fantasy sports contest league. FIG. 12 shows an
illustrative edit fantasy sports contest league rules display
screen 1200. Referring to both FIGS. 10 and 12, the fantasy sports
contest application may provide to a user the ability to edit
league rules in display screen 1200 in response to a user selection
of option 1024 to edit league rules. Display screen 1200 may
include various editable rules for a fantasy sports contest league
and a fantasy sports contestant such as, for example, the fantasy
sports contest league rules displayed in display region 1002 of
display screen 1000. In particular, display screen 1200 may include
editable fantasy sports contest league rules including an editable
team salary cap 1202 for a contestant's fantasy sports contest
team, an editable limit on the number of fantasy sports contest
player trades in a week 1204, an editable limit on the number of
fantasy sports contest player trades in a season 1206, an editable
option that determines whether intra-league wagering is enabled
1208, an editable option that determines whether inter-league
wagering is enabled 1210, an editable option that determines
whether out-of-league wagering is enabled 1216, an editable limit
on the amount of intra-league wagering in a week 1214 (or other
period of time), an editable limit on the amount of inter-league
wagering in a week 1216, an editable limit on the amount of
out-of-league wagering in a week 1218, or any other editable
fantasy sports contest league rules. In this example, a user may
edit league rules (e.g., edit salary cap 1202 to be "$60 million
USD") using the pull-down menus (e.g., pull-down menu 1202) shown
in FIG. 12. In other examples, a user may be permitted to edit
league rules by entering information into data fields or using any
other suitable method of editing league rules. In some embodiments
of the present invention, the fantasy sports contest application my
provide to only a league commissioner of a fantasy sports contest
league (e.g., a contestant of the fantasy sports contest league
that sets rules for and otherwise watches over the fantasy sports
contest league) the ability to edit league rules. The fantasy
sports contest application may modify league rules as indicated by
a user in display screen 1200 in response to a user selection of
"APPLY" option 1220.
[0150] In some embodiments of the present invention, only a portion
of the league rules may be editable throughout a fantasy sports
contest league season. For example, salary cap 1004 may be editable
only until the half-way point of a fantasy sports contest league
season. As another example, users may be permitted to enable or
disable only inter-league wagering 1010 (e.g., for points
redeemable for prizes) throughout an entire fantasy sports contest
league season. Still another example, users may be permitted to
modify settings for intra-league wagering for money (e.g., enabling
or disabling inter-league wagering for money, modifying a limit on
the monetary amount for inter-league wagering, etc.) throughout an
entire fantasy sports contest league season, but settings for
intra-league wagering for fantasy sports contest league points may
be locked-in (i.e., not editable) once the fantasy sports contest
league season has started, is halfway over, etc.
[0151] In some embodiments of the present invention, a user may be
required to enter a password to edit league rules. FIG. 12 shows an
illustrative password entry display screen 1300. Referring to both
FIGS. 10 and 13, the fantasy sports contest application may display
password overlay 1302 in response to a user selection of option
1024 to edit league rules. A user may be required to enter a valid
password (e.g., the password of data regions 506 and 508 (FIG. 5),
a password known only to a fantasy sports contest league
commissioner, etc.) into data region 1304 and subsequently select
"Enter" option 1306 of password overlay 1302 to edit league
rules.
[0152] In some embodiments of the present invention, at least some
of the fantasy sports contest and wagering rules may be determined
for a user. For example, the fantasy sports contest application may
use application data (e.g., accounting data indicating whether the
members of a fantasy sports contest league have a history of timely
settling lost bets) to determine whether wagering (e.g.,
intra-league wagering, inter-league wagering, and out-of-league
wagering) is enabled or disabled for the members of a fantasy
sports contest league. As another example, the fantasy sports
contest application may use application data (e.g., data indicating
a contestant's geographical location) to determine whether a
particular fantasy sports contestant is permitted to wager for
money, fantasy sports contest points, or points redeemable for
prizes. Still another example, the fantasy sports contest
application may determine all fantasy sports contest and wagering
rules for members of a national fantasy sports contest league
(e.g., national rotisserie soccer league "World Cup Soccer" 824
(FIG. 8)).
[0153] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may display to a fantasy sports
contestant information for winners of previous weeks of a fantasy
sports contest league season. FIG. 14 shows an illustrative
previous winners display screen 1400. Referring to both FIGS. 8 and
14, the fantasy sports contest application may display in display
region 1402 information for winners of previous weeks of a fantasy
sports contest league season in response to a user selection of
option 830 to view winners of previous weeks. In this example,
display region 1402 includes information that indicates contestant
"Dave" (1404, 1406) was the winner of "week 1" 1408 and "week 3"
1410 and contestant "Jim" 1412 was the winner of "week 2" 1414.
Display region 1402 also includes payout information for the
winners of previous weeks. For example, the information of display
region 1402 indicates that contestant "Dave" (1404, 1406) won "$10"
1416 for "week 1" 1408 and "25 pts." 1418 for "week 3" 1410, and
contestant "Jim" 1412 won "$5" 1420 for "week 2" 1414. Payout
amounts 1416, 1418 and 1420 may be based on wagers made by fantasy
sports contestants. For example, payouts 1416, 1418, and 1420 may
be based on a payout schedule that was defined by the contestants
of a fantasy sports contest at the start of the fantasy sports
contest league (e.g., the winner of "week 1" 1408 receives "$10"
1410) in, for example, a display screen similar to edit league
rules display screen 1200 (FIG. 12) having pull-down menus that can
be used to define payouts. As another example, payouts 1416, 1418
and 1420 may be determined based on wagers made between fantasy
sports contestants during the fantasy sports contest league (e.g.,
contestant "Dave" 1406 wagered "25 pts." 1418 with the fantasy
sports contest application system that contestant "Dave" 1406 would
win "week 3" 1410). Winners of fantasy sports contest leagues may
be compensated with, for example, money, fantasy sports points,
non-cash prices, and points redeemable for prizes. In some
embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy sports contest
application may display in display region 1402 information for
contests between fantasy sports contest leagues such as, for
example, information indicating which fantasy sports contest league
accumulated the most fantasy sports contest points in previous
weeks. In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may display in display region 1402
information for wagers between fantasy sports contest leagues such
as, for example, information indicating payouts that have been won
by the fantasy sports contest leagues for wagers based on the
performance of the fantasy sports contest leagues in a fantasy
sports contest.
[0154] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user an opportunity to
edit a fantasy sports contest team roster for a fantasy sports
contest league. FIG. 15 shows an illustrative edit team roster
display screen 1500. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 15, the fantasy
sports contest application may display display screen 1500 in
response to a user selection of option 832 to edit a fantasy sports
contest team roster. Display screen 1500 may include information
such as, for example, active league 1502, number of trades a
contestant has made in a current week 1504, number of trades that a
contestant may make in the remainder of the week 1506 (e.g., based
on league rule 1006 (FIG. 10)), number of trades a contestant has
made in a fantasy sports contest league season 1508, salary cap
1510 (e.g., corresponding to league rule 1004 (FIG. 10)), total
salary of current team roster 1512, current team roster 1514,
salaries of players of current team roster 1516, available fantasy
sports contest team players 1518, salaries of available fantasy
sports contest team players 1520 (e.g., as defined by fantasy
sports contest league contestants at the beginning of the league,
as defined by the fantasy sports contest application, etc.), and
salary funds available below the salary cap 1522. The fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user an opportunity
trade players from current team roster 1514 for other fantasy
sports contest players (e.g., available fantasy sports contest team
players 1518), provided that the user remains below salary cap
1510.
[0155] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may display information indicating that
a trade attempt is invalid (e.g., because a user has exceeded the
limit on the amount of trades that can be made, because a user
already has one or more players for a particular position, etc.)
when a user attempts to complete an invalid trade. FIG. 16 shows an
illustrative invalid trade overlay display screen 1600. Referring
to FIGS. 15 and 16, the fantasy sports contest application may
display overlay 1602 in response to a user attempt to complete an
invalid trade from display screen 1500. In particular, if a user
positions highlight region 1524 on current rotisserie league first
baseman Mark. Grace 1526 and highlight region 1528 on available
rotisserie league first baseman Jason Giambi 1530 and selects
"Trade" option 1532, the fantasy sports contest application may
display information 1604 in overlay 1602 indicating that the trade
attempt is invalid because the user cannot exceed salary cap 1510.
The fantasy sports contest application may remove overlay 1602 in
response to a user selection of "OK" option 1606.
[0156] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user an opportunity to
make selections for, for example, a wagering pool (e.g., a wagering
pool that is related to the user's fantasy sports contest). For
example, the fantasy sports contest application may display
information for a wagering pool in response to a user selection of
an option to edit wagering selections (not shown). An edit wagering
settings display screen may appear similar to edit team roster
display screen 1500 in that a user may be provided with an
opportunity to make wagering pool selections (e.g., for a
particular week of an NFL football season, for an entire tournament
such as the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, etc.) using data
provided by the fantasy sports contest application.
[0157] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to
view information for outstanding intra-league wagers (e.g.,
intra-league wagers for a current week, intra-league wagers that
have not been paid, etc.). FIG. 17 shows an illustrative
outstanding intra-league wager display screen 1700. Referring to
both FIGS. 8 and 17, the fantasy sports contest application may
display in display region 1702 a list of outstanding intra-league
wagers in response to a user selection of option 834 to view
outstanding intra-league wagers. Display region 1702 may include
information that indicates to a user the terms of outstanding
intra-league wagers. In this example, display region 1702 includes
data for wagers between a fantasy sports contestant and the fantasy
sports contest application system such as wagerer 1704, number of
fantasy sports contest points wagered 1706, wager number 1708, and
wager outcome 1710. For example, information in display region 1702
indicates that fantasy sports contestant "Dave" 1712 wagered 6
fantasy sports contest league points 1714 with the fantasy sports
contest application system on wager number "2" 1716. Wager number
"2" 1716 may be based on, tor example, one or more contestants'
performance in active fantasy sports contest league "Friends
Baseball" 808 (FIG. 8). As another example, wager number "2" 1716
may be based on any event that can be wagered on for fantasy sports
contest points (e.g., a sporting event that is related to active
fantasy sports contest league "Friends Baseball" 808, an event that
is unrelated to a fantasy sports contest league, etc.). Wager
number 1716 is a "Yes" or "No" wagering opportunity to which
wagerer 1712 chose "No" 1718. As indicated in display region 1702,
wagerer 1712 won 1720 wager number 1716.
[0158] FIG. 18 shows another illustrative outstanding intra-league
wager display screen 1800. Information in display region 1802 may
indicate to a user the terms of outstanding intra-league wagers
between fantasy sports contestants of the same fantasy sports
contest league. Display region 1802 may include data such as, for
example, wagerers 1804, amount wagered 1806, wager number 1808, and
wager outcome 1810. For example, information in display region 1802
indicates fantasy sports contestants "Dave" 1812 and "Kim" 1814
wagered "$5" 1816 on wager number "A12" 1818. Wagerer 1814 won 1820
wager number "A12" 1818 and wagerer 1812 lost wager number "A12"
1818. Wager number "A12" 1818 may be based on, for example, one or
more contestants' performance in active fantasy sports contest
"Friends Baseball" 808 (FIG. 8). As another example, wager number
"A12" 1818 may be based on any event that can be wagered on such as
a sporting event that is related to active league "Friends
Baseball," 808, a sporting event that is unrelated to the fantasy
sports contest league, or any non-sports event that can be wagered
on. In this example, display region 1802 displays information for
wagers for money.
[0159] In other embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may display outstanding intra-league
wager display screens that include information for wagers for
non-cash prizes, fantasy sports contest points, or points
redeemable for prices. For example, FIG. 19 shows outstanding
intra-league wager display screen 1900 that is similar to display
screen 1800 (FIG. 18) except that display screen 1900 includes
information for intra-league wagers for points 1902 (e.g., points
redeemable for cash or non-cash prizes).
[0160] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to
view information for particular outstanding intra-league wagers for
fantasy sports contest points between a fantasy sports contestant
and the fantasy sports contest application system. FIG. 20 shows an
illustrative intra-league wager display screen 2000. Referring to
both FIGS. 17 and 20, the fantasy sports contest application may
display in display region 2002 information for wager number 1716 in
response to a user selection of wager number 1716. A user may, for
example, position highlight region 1722 on wager number 1716 and
press a remote control "Enter" key (e.g., from remote control 318
(FIG. 3)) to select wager number 1716. Display region 2002 may
include information for wager number 1716 such as, for example,
wager number 2004, wager description 2006, and wager outcome 2006
(i.e., if the wager outcome is known). In this example, wager
number (1716, 2004) is related to active fantasy sports contest
league "Friends Baseball" 808 (FIG. 8), and based on the outcome of
wager description 2006, "Will Roger Clemens strike out more than
ten hitters in Tuesday's baseball game against Baltimore?". As
indicated, the outcome of wager number (1716, 2004) is "No" 2008.
Accordingly, because wagerer 1712 selected "No" 1718 to wager
number 2 (1716, 2004), wagerer 1712 won 1718 wager number 2 (1716,
2004) for "6" fantasy sports contest league points 1714.
Alternatively, because wagerer 1724 selected "Yes" 1726 to wager
number (1728, 2004), wagerer 1724 lost 1730 wager number (1723,
2004) for "7" fantasy sports contest points 1732. Wager number 2004
may be a wager for the current week of active fantasy sports
contest league "Friends Baseball" 808 (FIG. 8).
[0161] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to
view information for particular outstanding intra-league wagers
between fantasy sports contestants of the same fantasy sports
contest league. FIG. 21 shows another illustrative intra-league
wager display screen 2100. Referring to both FIGS. 18 and 21, the
fantasy sports contest application may display in display region
2102 information for wager number "A12" 1818 in response to a user
selection of wager number 1818. Display region 2102 may include
information for wager number 1818 such as, for example, wager
number 2104, wager description 2006, wagerers (2108, 2110),
wagering terms (2112, 2114) and wager outcome and amount 2116
(i.e., if the wager outcome is known). In this example, wager
number "A12" (1818, 2104) may be a wager related to active fantasy
sports contest league "Friends Baseball" 808 (FIG. 8), and based on
the outcome of wager description 2106. "The winner of this wager is
the contestant who accumulates more fantasy sports contest points
in week 2". Icon 2112 indicates that wagerer "Kim" (1814, 2110) won
(i.e., by accumulating more fantasy sports contest points than
contestant Dave (1812, 2108) wager number "A12" (1818, 2104) for
"$5" (1816, 2112). Wager number "A12" (1818, 2104) may be displayed
as an outstanding intra-league wager because contestant "Dave
(1812, 2108) has not yet settled (e.g., paid) the wager with
contestant "Kim" (1814, 2110).
[0162] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user an opportunity to
view information for intra-league wagers that are unrelated to
fantasy sports contest leagues. FIG. 22 shows another illustrative
intra-league wager display screen 2200. Referring to both FIGS. 18
and 22, the fantasy sports contest application may display in
display region 2202 information for wager number "A13" 1822 in
response to a user selection of wager number 1822. For example,
display region 2202 may include information for wager number 1822
such as wager number 2204, wager description 2206, wagerers (2208,
2210), wagering terms (2212, 2214), and wager outcome and amount
2216. In this example, wager number "A13" (1822, 2204) is based on
the outcome of wager description 2206, "Will the Houston Rockets
defeat the Portland Trailblazers by more than 9 points on Monday?"
which may be unrelated to active fantasy sports contest league
"Friends Baseball" 808 (FIG. 8). Contestant "Alex" (1824, 2208)
selected "YES" 2212 to wager number "A13" (1822, 2204) and
contestant "Tom" (1826, 2210) selected "NO" 2214 to wager number
"A13" (1822, 2204). Icon 2216 indicates wagerer "Tom" (1826, 2210)
won wager number "A13" (1822, 2204) for "$3" (1828, 2216). In some
embodiments of the present invention, wagering between members of
fantasy sports contest leagues may be ancillary to a main fantasy
competition e.g., fantasy competition based on the performance of
athletes in real-life athletic competition).
[0163] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to
view information for outstanding inter-league wagers (e.g.,
inter-league wagers for a current week, inter-league wagers that
have not been paid, etc.). FIG. 23 shows an illustrative
outstanding inter-league wager display screen 2300. Referring to
both FIGS. 8 and 23, the fantasy sports contest application may
display in display region 2302 a list of outstanding inter-league
wagers in response to a user selection of option 836 to view
outstanding inter-league wagers. In some embodiments of the present
invention, display region 2302 may include data indicating the
terms of inter-league wagers. In this example, display region 2302
includes information for wagers between different fantasy sports
contest leagues or between members of different fantasy sports
contest leagues such as wagerers 2304, wager number 2306, and wager
outcome 2308. In particular, data in display region 2302 indicates
that fantasy sports contest league "Friends Baseball" (808, 2310)
wagered "<Another League>" 2312 on wager number "L6" 2314.
Outcome 2316 of wager number "L6" 2310 is unknown. As another
example, data in display region 2302 Indicates that fantasy sports
contestant "<Your Name>" 2318 wagered fantasy sports
contestant "William" 2320 (i.e., a contestant of a different
fantasy sports contest league) on wager number "L9" 2322. Outcome
2334 of wager number "L9" 2322 is also unknown. Wager numbers "L6"
2314 and "L9" 2322 may be baaed on, for example, one or more
contestants' performance in a fantasy sports contest. As another
example, wager numbers "L6" 2314 and "L9" 2322 may be based on any
event that can be wagered on (e.g., a sporting event that is
related to a fantasy sports contest league, an event that is
unrelated to a fantasy sports contest league, etc.). Wager numbers
"L6" 2314 and "L9" 2322 may be for, for example, money, fantasy
sports contest points, prices, or points redeemable for prizes.
[0164] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user an opportunity to
view information for particular outstanding inter-league wagers.
For example, the fantasy sports contest application may display
information for particular inter-league wagers between different
fantasy sports contest leagues. FIG. 21 shows an illustrative
inter-league wager display screen 2400. Referring to both FIGS. 23
and 24, the fantasy sports contest application may display in
display region 2402 information for wager number "L6" 2314 in
response to a user selection of wager number 2314 (e.g., a user
positioning highlight region 2326 on wager number 2314 and
selecting an "Enter" key of remote control 318 (FIG. 3)). For
example, display region 2406 may include information for wager
number 2314 such as wager number 2404 and wager terms 2406. In this
example, wager terms 2406 indicate that wager number "L6" (2314,
2404) is a wager for a gift certificate between a first fantasy
sports contest league 2310 and a second fantasy sports contest
league 2312 and is based on which league accumulates the greater
amount of fantasy sports contest points (e.g., by the conclusion of
a fantasy sports contest of which both leagues are a sub-division).
Wager number "L6" (2314, 2404) may be displayed as an outstanding
inter-league wager because outcome 2316 (FIG. 23) has not yet been
determined.
[0165] In some embodiments of the present invention, fantasy sports
contest application may provide to a user the ability to view
information for particular outstanding inter-league wagers between
members of different fantasy sports contest leagues. FIG. 25 shows
an illustrative inter-league wager display screen 2500. Referring
to both FIGS. 23 and 25, the fantasy sports contest application may
display in display region 2502 information for wager number "L9"
2322 in response to a user selection of wager number "L9" 2322. For
example, Display region 2502 may include information for wager
number "L9" 2323 such as wager number 2504, wager description 2506,
wagerers (2508, 2510), wager amount 2512, and other wager terms
(2514, 2516). In this example, wager number "L9" (2322, 2504) is
based on wager description 2506, "Will the current "Who wants to Be
a Millionaire" contestant answer the $64,000 question correctly?".
Wager points 2512 may be, for example, fantasy sports contest
points or points redeemable for prizes (e.g., from a website
accessible to and affiliated with the fantasy sports contest
application system and which is fed information by the fantasy
sports contest application regarding a user's point total). Wager
number "L9" (2332, 2504) may be displayed as an outstanding
inter-league wagering opportunity because outcome 2304 (FIG. 23)
has not yet been determined.
[0166] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user an opportunity to
view information for outstanding out-of-league wagers (e.g.,
out-of-league wagers of a current week, out-of-league wagers for
that have not yet been paid, etc). FIG. 26 shows an illustrative
outstanding out-of-league wagers display screen 2600. Referring to
both FIGS. 8 and 26, the fantasy sports contest application may
display in display region 2602 a list of outstanding out-of-league
wagers in response to a user selection of option 838 to view
outstanding out-of-league wagers. In some embodiments of the
present invention, display region 2602 may include information that
indicates to a user the terms of out-of-league wagers. For example,
display region 2602 may include information for a user's
out-of-league wagers (e.g., between the user and a wagering
service) such as wager description 2604, wager amount 2606, and
wager outcome 2608. In this example, display region 2602 includes
information indicating that the user wagered "$10" 2610 that
"`Gladiator` will win an Oscar for Best Movie." 2612. Information
2614 of display region 2602 indicates that the user won this wager
with odds paying "2:1". The wager described by wager description
2612 may be, for example, a pari-mutuel wager in which the payout
(i.e., the payout odds) was determined by the number and
disposition of other wagerers (i.e., including at least one wagerer
that is not a fantasy sports contestant). As another example, the
payout of the wager described by wager description 2612 may have
been predefined. Display region 2602 also includes information that
indicates that the user wagered "15 pts." 2616 that "Michael Jordan
will make his next 3-point attempt." 2618. Information 2620 of
display region 2602 indicates that the user lost this wager. In
this example, wager points 2616 may be, for example, points
redeemable for prizes (e.g., sports apparel redeemable through a
catalog or cash prizes).
[0167] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user an opportunity to
view information for different types of outstanding wagers (e.g.,
outstanding intra-league wagers, outstanding inter-league wagers,
and outstanding out-of-league wagers) in the same display screens.
For example, the information for outstanding wagers of FIGS. 17-26
may be integrated into one or more fantasy sports contest
application display screens.
[0168] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user an opportunity to
view information for archived wagers (e.g., wagers not of the
current week, wagers that have been paid, etc.). For example, the
fantasy sports contest application may display a list of archived
wagers including archived intra-league wagers, archived
inter-league wagers, and archived out-of-league wagers in response
to a user selection of option 840 to view archived wagers. The list
of archived wagers may appear similar to the lists shown in FIGS.
17-19, 23 and 26. As another example, the fantasy sports contest
application may display information for different types of archived
wagers (e.g., archived intra-league wagers, archived inter-league
wagers, and archived out-of-league wagers) separately.
[0169] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may display wager numbers that indicate
to a user different types of wagers (e.g., intra-league wagers,
intra-league wagers between two contestants of the same fantasy
sports contest league, inter-league wagers, inter-league wagers
between members of different fantasy sports contest leagues,
out-of-league wagers, etc.). For example, wager numbers for
intra-league wagers between a contestant and the fantasy sports
contest application system may include numerals only (e.g.,
intra-league wager number "2" 2004 (FIG. 20). As another example,
wager numbers for intra-league wagers between two contestants of
the same fantasy sports contest league may include a unique letter
followed by numerals (e.g., intra-league wager number "A12" 2104
(FIG. 21)). Still another example, wager numbers for all
inter-league wagers (e.g., wagers between different fantasy sports
contest leagues and wagers between members of different fantasy
sports contest leagues) may include a unique letter (e.g.,
different from other letters that may be used to identify other
types of wagers) followed by numerals (e.g., inter-league wager
numbers "L6" 2314 and "L9" 2322 (FIG. 23)). This may, for example,
allow the fantasy sports contest application to simultaneously
display information for different types of wagers without confusing
a user. The fantasy sports contest application may differentiate
different types of wagers using any other suitable method or
combination of methods such as, for example, displaying each type
of wager in a different color, font, font size, or region of a
display screen or having a particular icon associated
therewith.
[0170] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to
view information for wagering opportunities available to the user.
FIG. 27 shows an illustrative available wagering opportunities
display screen 2700. Referring to both FIGS. 8 and 27, the fantasy
sports contest application may display information for available
wagering opportunities 2702 in response to a user selection of
option 842 to view available wagering opportunities, In this
example, highlight region 2704 indicates that available
intra-league wagering opportunities 2706 is the active wagering
opportunity type (i.e., the wagering opportunity type for which
wagering opportunities are displayed). Display screen 2700 may
include information for intra-league wagering opportunities such
as, for example, intra-league wagering opportunity description 2708
and intra-league wagering opportunity amount 2710. The fantasy
sports contest application may accept a wager for a user for an
active intra-league wagering opportunity (e.g., a wagering
opportunity that is highlighted by a highlight region) in response
to a user selection (e.g., a user selection of an "Enter" key of
remote control 318 (FIG. 3)) of the active intra-league wagering
opportunity.
[0171] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to
view information for available intra-league wagers between fantasy
sports contestants of the same fantasy sports contest league. For
example, wagering opportunity description 2712 may indicate an
opportunity to wager with contestant "Alex" (i.e., a contestant of
one of the user's fantasy sports contest leagues) on "I will earn
more fantasy sports contest points than you in week 6.". In
particular, contestant "Alex" may be willing to wager that "Alex"
will earn more fantasy sports contest points in week 6 of fantasy
sports contest league "Friends Baseball" 808 (FIG. 8). In this
example, the opportunity to wager described by wagering opportunity
description 2712 may be based on a contestants' performance in a
fantasy sports contest and in an amount of "$5" 2714. In other
examples, the fantasy sports contest application may provide to a
user an opportunity to view information for wagering opportunities
based events related or unrelated to the contestants' fantasy
sports contest league. Also in other examples, the fantasy sports
contest application may provide to a user the ability to view
information for wagering opportunities for, for example, prizes,
fantasy sports contest points, or points redeemable for prizes.
[0172] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to
view information for intra-league wagering opportunities for
fantasy sports contest points between a fantasy sports contestant
and the fantasy sports contest application system. For example,
wagering opportunity description 2716 may indicate an opportunity
to wager with the fantasy sports contest application system on "Who
will win Friday's Baltimore/Boston baseball game?". In this
example, the wagering opportunity described by wagering opportunity
description 2716 may be based on an event related to one of the
contestant's fantasy sports contest league (e.g., league 808 (FIG.
8)). In other examples, the fantasy sports contest application may
provide to a user an opportunity to view information for
intra-league wagering opportunities between a fantasy sports
contestant and the fantasy sports contest application system that
are based on events unrelated to a contestant's fantasy sports
contest league. Wagering opportunity amount 2718 may indicate that
the opportunity to wager described by wagering opportunity
description 2716 is an opportunity to wager for a maximum amount of
25 fantasy sports contest points 2718.
[0173] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to
view information for available inter-league wagering opportunities.
FIG. 28 shows an illustrative available inter-league wagering
opportunities display screen 2800. Referring to both FIGS. 27 and
28, the fantasy sports contest application may display information
for available inter-league wagering opportunities in display screen
2800 in response to a user selection of option 2720 to view
available inter-league wagers (e.g., or by default in response to a
user selection of option 842 (FIG. 8) to view available wagering
opportunities). For example, display screen 2800 may include
information for inter-league wagering opportunities such as
inter-league wagering opportunity description 2802 and inter-league
wagering opportunity amount 2804. The fantasy sports contest
application may accept a wager for a user for an active
inter-league wagering opportunity (e.g., an inter-league wagering
opportunity that is highlighted by a highlight region) in response
to a user selection of the active inter-league wagering
opportunity.
[0174] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to
view information for inter-league wagering opportunities between
different fantasy sports contest leagues. For example, wagering
opportunity description 2806 may indicate an opportunity to wager
with fantasy sports contest league "<Another League>" on
"Major League Baseball: NYY will defeat NYM on Thursday." Wagering
opportunity description 2806 may indicate an opportunity to wager
for wagering opportunity amount "$20" 2808. In this example, the
wagering opportunity described by wagering opportunity description
2800 may be based on an event related to one of the user's fantasy
sports contest leagues (e.g., active league 808 (FIG. 8)) and for
money. In other examples, the fantasy sports contest application
may provide to a user an opportunity to view information for
inter-league wagering opportunities (e.g., between different
fantasy sports contest leagues or contestants of different fantasy
sports contest leagues) that are based on events unrelated to
contestants' fantasy sports contest leagues. Also in other
examples, the fantasy sports contest application may provide to a
user an opportunity to view information tor inter-league wagering
opportunities between fantasy sports contest leagues for prizes,
fantasy sports contest points, or points redeemable for prizes.
[0175] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user an opportunity to
view information for inter-league wagering opportunities between
contestants of different fantasy sports contest leagues. For
example, wagering opportunity description 2810 may indicate an
opportunity to wager with fantasy sports contestant "Jeff" (i.e., a
contestant of a different fantasy sports contest league) on "NFL
Football: Bears will defeat Jets on Saturday." Wagering opportunity
description 2810 may indicate an opportunity to wager for wagering
opportunity amount "A $30 dollar gift certificate to "Outback
Steakhouse"" 2812. In this example, wagering opportunity
description 2810 may describe an opportunity to wager based on an
event unrelated to one of the user's fantasy sports contest leagues
(e.g., league 808 (FIG. 8)) and for a prize. In other examples, the
fantasy sports contest application may provide to a user an
opportunity to view information for inter-league wagering
opportunities between fantasy sports contestants for events related
to one of a user's fantasy sports contest leagues. Also in other
examples, the fantasy sports contest application may provide to a
user the ability to view information for inter-league wagering
opportunities between fantasy sports contestants of different
fantasy sports contest leagues for money, fantasy sports contest,
points, or points redeemable for prices.
[0176] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to
view information for available out-of-league wagering
opportunities. FIG. 29 shows an illustrative available
out-of-league wagering opportunities display screen 2900. Referring
to both FIGS. 27 and 29, the fantasy sports contest application may
display information for available out-of-league wagering
opportunities in display screen 2900 in response to a user
selection of option 2722 to view available out-of-league wagering
opportunities. For example, display screen 2900 may include
information for out-of-league wagering opportunities such as
out-of-league wagering opportunity description 2902 and
out-of-league wagering opportunity amount 2904. For example,
wagering opportunity description 2906 may indicate an opportunity
to wager on "Will the New Jersey Pets defeat the Detroit Pistons by
at least 12 points tonight?". Wagering opportunity amount 2908 may
indicate that the opportunity to wager is for a "$50 maximum"
(e.g., a maximum out-of-league wager amount rule set by a user in
edit league rules display screen 1100 (FIG. 11), a maximum
out-of-league wager imposed by the fantasy sports contest
application based on a user's account balance, etc.). The fantasy
sports contest application may provide to the user the ability to
select a wager amount (e.g., up to "$50 maximum" 2908) in response
to a user selection of the wagering opportunity (e.g., positioning
highlight region 2910 and pressing an "Enter" key on remote control
318 (FIG. 3)). The wagering opportunity described by wagering
opportunity description 2906 may be, for example, an opportunity to
wager for money based on defined wagering odds (e.g., 2:1 payout).
Wagering opportunity description 2906 may indicate that a point
spread is required to be met for a wagerer to win the wager. In
other examples, the fantasy sports contest application may provide
to a user the ability to view information for out-of-league
wagering opportunities for, for example, non-cash prizes or points
redeemable for prizes. The fantasy sports contest application may
accept an out-of-league wager for a user in response to a user
selection of an out-of-league wagering opportunity.
[0177] In some embodiments of the present invention, a user may be
required to enter a password to wager. FIG. 30 shows an
illustrative password entry overlay display screen 3000. Referring
to both FIGS. 27 and 30, the fantasy sports contest application may
display password entry overlay 3002 in response to a user selection
of a wagering opportunity (e.g., the wagering opportunity described
by wagering opportunity description 2716 and amount 2724). A uses
may be required to enter a valid password (e.g., the password of
data regions 506 and 508 (FIG. 5)) into data region 3004 and select
"Enter" option 3006 to wager.
[0178] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may display information that confirms
valid wagers. FIG. 31 shows an illustrative wager confirmation
overlay display screen 3100. Referring to both FIGS. 30 and 31, the
fantasy sports contest application may display wager confirmation
overlay 3102 in response to a user entry of a valid password into
data region 3004 and a user selection of "Enter" option 3006. In
this example, overlay 3102 indicates that the user has successfully
accepted the wagering opportunity described by wagering opportunity
description 2716 (FIG. 27) for 10 points (i.e., selected by the
user using the pull-down menu associated with wagering opportunity
amount 2724 (FIG. 27)). Overlay 3102 may be removed in response to
a user selection of "OK" option 3104.
[0179] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to
view information for different types of available wagering
opportunities (e.g., intra-league wagering opportunities,
inter-league wagering opportunities, and out-of-league wagering
opportunities) in the same display screens. For example, the
fantasy sports contest application may display the wagering
opportunities of FIGS. 27-29 in the same display screen in response
to a user selection of option 842 to view available wagering
opportunities. In some embodiments of the present invention, the
fantasy sports contest application may display information that
allows a user to easily recognize different types of wagering
opportunities (e.g., by displaying information for each type of
wagering opportunity in a different color, by displaying unique
wager number's for each different type of wagering opportunity, by
associating a different icon with each type of wagering
opportunity, etc.).
[0180] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to
view information for a particular user's account. FIG. 32 shows an
illustrative user account display screen 3200. Referring to both
FIGS. 27 and 32, the fantasy sports contest application may display
information for a particular user's account in display screen 3200
in response to a user selection of option 2726 to "Check/Add to My
Account Balance." For example, display screen 3200 may include
information for a particular user's account such as a user's
account balance in money 3202, a user's account balance in points
3204, and a date which a user's monthly fee (e.g., a monthly fee
for participation in fantasy sports contest leagues, wagering
opportunities, or both) is due 3206. Account balance 3202 may
indicate the monetary funds available to a user to, for example,
wager, participate in fantasy sports contest leagues, and pay
monthly fees due. Account balance 3204 may indicate the number of
points a user has available to, for example, wager or redeem prizes
(i.e., if the points are redeemable for prizes). Display screen
3200 may include option 3208 to deposit funds to the user's account
by credit card. In response to a user selection of option 3208, the
fantasy sports contest application may display appropriate data
regions for a user to enter credit card information (e.g., credit
card number, expiration date, etc.) and a desired amount of funds
to be added. Display screen 3200 may include option 3220 to pay a
user's monthly fee e.g., by credit card). Display screen 3200 may
also include information for other methods of adding funds to a
user's account or paying fees such as, for example, by telephone
using telephone number 3212.
[0181] In some embodiment of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to
propose a wagering opportunity. FIG. 33 shows an illustrative
wagering opportunity proposal display screen 3300. Referring to
both FIGS. 8 and 33, the fantasy sports contest application may
display display screen 3300 in response to a user selection of
option 844 to propose a wagering opportunity. A user may be
provided with the ability to propose wagering opportunities for,
for example, infra-league wagers (e.g., in response to a user
selection of option 3302 or by default in response to a user
selection of option 844), inter-league wagers (e.g., in response to
a user selection of option 3304), and out-of league wagers (e.g.,
in response to a user selection of option 3306). In this example,
the user may provided with the ability to define a wagering
opportunity description 3308 and amount 3310 for an out-of-league
wagering opportunity. The fantasy sports contest application may
display, for example, numerous pull-down menus such as pull down
menus 3312 and 3314 from which a user can select various wagering
terms (e.g., wager description and wager amount). Display screen
3300 may include option 3316 to "Check/Add to My Account Balance"
to allow a user to view the user's account information (e.g., to
determine whether to propose a wager). The fantasy sports contest
application may determine whether a wagering opportunity proposal
is valid (e.g., whether a wagering opportunity proposal is in
accordance with wager rules of, for example, rules display screen
1000 (FIG. 10) or wager laws governing a users particular
geographical region) in response to a user selection of option 3318
to submit a wagering opportunity proposal. In some embodiments of
the present invention, the fantasy sports contest application may
display to a user only valid wagering opportunity proposal options
and selectable features such that a user's wagering opportunity
proposal is always valid (e.g., not displaying options to propose a
wagering opportunity for money in geographical regions in which
wagering for money is illegal). In some embodiments of the present
invention, a user may be required to enter a valid password to
propose a wagering opportunity (e.g., in a password entry overlay
similar to password entry overlay 3002 (FIG. 30)).
[0182] The fantasy sports contest application may provide to a user
the ability to propose a wagering opportunity using any suitable
approach. For example, FIG. 34 shows another illustrative wager
opportunity proposal display screen 3400. The fantasy sports
contest application may provide to a user the ability to define
wagering opportunity description 3402 for a wagering opportunity
(e.g., an inter-league wagering opportunity from "Friends Baseball"
league 3404 in the example of FIG. 34) in data region 3406 and
wagering opportunity amount 3408 in data region 3410 (e.g., using
remote control 318 (FIG. 3), using a computer keyboard, etc.). In
response to a user selection of option 3412 to submit a wagering
opportunity proposal, the fantasy sports contest application may
determine, for example, whether the user is permitted to
participate in inter-league wagering (e.g., based on laws governing
a user's particular geographical region), whether the user (or
user's league) has exceeded a limit for inter-league wagering for
the week or season, or whether the user has entered a valid
wagering amount 3410 (e.g., for prizes, money, points, etc.). FIG.
35 shows still another illustrative wagering opportunity proposal
display screen 3500. The fantasy sports contest application may
provide to a user the ability to define wagering opportunity terms
for a wagering opportunity (e.g., an intra-league wagering
opportunity) such as wagering opportunity description and amount in
data region 3502 (e.g., using remote control 318 (FIG. 3), using a
computer keyboard, etc.). The fantasy sports contest application
may also provide to a user the ability to define to whom the
wagering opportunity is directed 3504 (e.g., which fantasy sports
contest league, which fantasy sports contestant, which wagering
service, etc.). In this example, a user may be permitted to select
at least one member (e.g., "Tom" 3506) of fantasy sports contest
league "Friends Baseball" 808 (FIG. 8) using pull-down menu 3508.
Information for the wagering opportunity directed to contestant
3506 may be displayed for contestant 3506 in, for example, an
available wagering opportunities display screen (e.g., wagering
opportunities display screen 2700 (FIG. 27)), an overlay, or an
email (in systems in which the fantasy sports contest application
communicates data via the Internet). In response to a user
selection of option 3510 to submit a wagering opportunity proposal,
the fantasy sports contest application may determine, for example,
whether the user submitting the proposal is permitted to
participate in wagering (e.g., intra-league wagering), whether the
user receiving the proposal is permitted to participate in
wagering, or whether the user has exceeded a limit for wagering for
the week or season (e.g., as indicated by rules of rules display
screen 1000 (FIG. 10)).
[0183] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user (or league) the
ability to propose at least partially predefined wagering
opportunities (i.e., wagering opportunities at least partially
predefined by the fantasy sports contest application) to, for
example, another fantasy sports contestant, another fantasy sports
contest league, the fantasy sports contest application system, or a
wagering service. FIG. 36 shows another illustrative wagering
opportunities proposal display screen 3600. The fantasy sports
contest application may display information for at least partially
predefined wagering opportunities (e.g., at least partially defined
inter-league, intra-league, and out-of-league wagering
opportunities) in display screen 3600 in response to a user
selection of option 844 to propose a wagering opportunity. At least
one type of wagering opportunity terms such as, for example,
wagering opportunity description 3602 may be predefined for a user.
A user may be required to define other types of wagering
opportunity terms such as, for example, to whom the wagering
opportunity proposal is directed and in what wagering opportunity
amount 3604 (e.g., number of points, amount of money, prize, etc.)
to propose a wagering opportunity. For example, the fantasy sports
contest application may partially define wagering opportunity
description 3606 to describe a wagering opportunity that is based
on the outcome of a basketball game, but a user may be required to
define a point spread 3608 (e.g., using pull-down menu 3610), to
whom the wagering opportunity is directed 3612 (e.g., using
pull-down menu 3614) and a wagering opportunity amount 3616 (e.g.,
using pull-down menu 3618) to propose the wagering opportunity. As
another example, the fantasy sports contest application may
completely define wagering opportunity description "I will earn
more fantasy sports contest points in our fantasy sports contest by
the conclusion of our fantasy sports contest" 3620, but a user may
be required to define to whom the wagering opportunity is directed
3622 (e.g., a contestant of a different fantasy sports contest
league that is a sub-division of the user's fantasy sports contest)
using pull-down menu 3624 and in what amount 3626 using pull-down
menu 3628 to propose the wagering opportunity.
[0184] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may display information indicating an
invalid wagering opportunity proposal in response to a user
submission of an invalid wagering opportunity proposal. FIG. 37
shows an illustrative invalid wagering opportunity proposal display
screen 3700. Referring to FIGS. 33 and 37, the fantasy sports
contest application may display overlay 3702 in response to a user
selection of option 3318 to submit a wagering opportunity proposal
for an invalid wagering opportunity proposal (e.g., a wagering
opportunity proposal that does not follow rules indicated in rules
display screen 1000 (FIG. 10), a wagering opportunity proposal
exceeding a user's account balance 3202 or 3204 (FIG. 32), a
wagering opportunity proposal for money in a geographical region in
which wagering for money is not legally permitted, etc.). Overlay
3702 may include Information 3704 indicating that a user's wagering
opportunity proposal is invalid and that a user must re-define the
wagering opportunity proposal terms. Overlay 3702 may be removed
from display screen 3700 in response to a user selection of "OK"
option 3706.
[0185] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may display information indicating
confirmation of a valid wagering opportunity proposal. FIG. 33
shows an illustrative valid wagering opportunity proposal
confirmation overlay display screen 3800. Referring to FIGS. 33 and
38, the fantasy sports contest application may display overlay 3802
in response to a user selection of option 3318 to submit a wager
proposal for a valid wager proposal (e.g., a wager proposal that
follow rules indicated in rules display screen 1000 (FIG. 10), a
wager proposal not exceeding user's account balance 3202 or 3204
(FIG. 32), a wager proposal for money in a geographical region in
which wagering for money is legally permitted, etc). Overlay 3802
may include information indicating, for example, a wagering
opportunity number 3804 that has been accorded to a valid wagering
opportunity proposal. Overlay 3802 may be removed from display
screen 3800 in response to a user selection of "OK" option
3806.
[0186] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may be implemented on an interactive
television platform. Fantasy sports contest application display
screens (e.g., and wagering application display screens if the
fantasy sports contest application interfaces with one or more
wagering applications to provide fantasy sports contests with
wagering opportunities) may be displayed on a television or other
suitable equipment for displaying television programming (e.g., a
PC/TV). FIG. 39 shows an illustrative interactive television
fantasy sports contest application display screen 3900. Information
for fantasy sports contests, wagering opportunities and wagers and
television programming (i.e., television programming that is
related or unrelated to fantasy sports contests) may foe displayed
in any suitable arrangement. For example, the fantasy sports
contest application may display fantasy sports contests information
3902 (and information for wagering opportunities and wagers) in a
first display region 3904 of display screen 3900. Television
programming 3906 for a specific television channel may be displayed
in a second display region 3908 of display screen 3900. Display
region 3904 may be an overlay including fantasy sports contest
information 3902 that at least partially overlays television
programming 3906 of display region 3908. For example, display
region 3904 may include fantasy sports contest information such as
fantasy sports contestant statistics 3902 (e.g., similar to data of
display region 804 (FIG. 8)). In other examples, display region
3904 may include any other information for fantasy sports contests
and wagering opportunities and wagers including fantasy sports
contest league standings (e.g., similar to data of display region
902 (FIG. 9)), fantasy sports contest league rules (e.g., similar
to data of FIGS. 10-12), outstanding wagers (e.g., similar to data
of FIGS. 17-20), available wagering opportunities (e.g., similar to
data of FIGS. 27-29), account information (e.g., similar to data of
FIG. 32), and wagering opportunity proposal data (e.g., similar to
data of FIGS. 33-36). The display arrangement of FIG. 39 is only
illustrative. Any other suitable display arrangement may be used.
For example, the fantasy sports contest application may display
information for fantasy sports contests and wagering opportunities
and wagers such that television programming for a current channel
cannot be seen or heard by a user while the information for fantasy
sports contests and wagering opportunities and wagers is
displayed.
[0187] FIG. 40 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in
providing to a user the ability to use a fantasy sports contest
application to access fantasy sports contests and wagering
opportunities in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention. At step 4002, the fantasy sports contest application may
display to the user information associated with a fantasy sports
contest in which the user participates. For example, the fantasy
sports contest application may display information for a real-life
sports player that is associated with the fantasy sports contest
such real-life statistics data or information indicating the
players available for a fantasy sports contest trade (e.g., the
information shown in edit team roster display screen 1500 (FIG.
15). As another example, the fantasy sports contest application may
display information that indicates the performance of the user in
the fantasy sports contest such as the user's personal statistics
in the fantasy sports contest (FIG. 8), the league standings of the
fantasy sports contest (FIG. 9), or other information that
indicates a user's performance in the fantasy sports contest (e.g.,
the user's account balance in fantasy sports points 3204 (FIG.
32)).
[0188] The user may be provided with the ability to use the fantasy
sports contest application to place a wager related to the fantasy
sports contest at step 4004. In some embodiments of the present
invention, the user may be provided with the ability to use the
fantasy sports contest application to place a wager based on the
performance of the user in the fantasy sports contest (e.g., by
indicating wagering opportunity 2712 (FIG. 27), by determining
wagering payouts for winners of the fantasy sports contest 1402
(FIG. 14), etc.). In some embodiments of the present invention, the
user may be provided with the ability to place a wager based on a
portion of a sports event, a sports event or more than one sports
event that is related to the user's fantasy sports contest (e.g.,
by indicating wagering opportunity 2716 (FIG. 27), by indicating
wagering opportunity 2806 (FIG. 28), etc.). The wager may be, for
example, an intra-league wager, an inter-league wager, or an out-of
league wager. The wager may be for, for example, money, fantasy
sports contest points, non-cash prizes, or points redeemable for
prizes. In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest may provide to the user the ability to place a wager
unrelated to the fantasy sports contest.
[0189] The fantasy sports contest application (e.g., or one or more
wagering applications that interfaces with the fantasy sports
contest application) may process the wager for the user at step
4006. For example, the fantasy sports contest application may
display to the user information indicating a wager amount (e.g.,
"$5" 1816 (FIG. 18)), a wager description (e.g., wager description
2406 (FIG. 24)), the parties involved in a wager (e.g., wagerers
1804 (FIG. 18)), when the wager was placed (e.g., by indicating
that the wager is an outstanding inter-league wager 836 (FIG. 8) of
a current week), an outcome of the wager (e.g., using icon 2216
(FIG. 22)), and whether the wager has been paid (e.g., by
indicating that the wager in an outstanding intra-league wager 834
(FIG. 8) that has not been paid).
[0190] In some embodiments of the present, the fantasy sports
contest application may display to the user information indicating
a wagering opportunity for the wager. FIG. 41 is a flow chart of
illustrative sub-steps involved in step 4004 (FIG. 40). A wagering
opportunity may be defined at step 4102. For example, a wagering
opportunity may be defined to be a wagering opportunity for money,
fantasy sports contest points, non-cash prizes, or points
redeemable for prizes. As another example, the wagering opportunity
may be defined to be a pari-mutuel wagering opportunity or a
wagering opportunity having a predefined payout schedule. Still
another example, a wagering opportunity amount, a wagering
opportunity description, and to whom a wagering opportunity is
directed may be defined at step 4004.
[0191] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may use application data to at least
partially define the wagering opportunity for the user. For
example, the fantasy sports contest application may define a
wagering opportunity description 3620 (FIG. 36) using application
data from rules data source 104 (FIG. 1), statistics data source
106, contest data source 108, wagering data source 110, fantasy
sports contest and wagering data source 204 (FIG. 2), external data
source 220, or any other source of application data or combination
of data sources.
[0192] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to at
least partially define the wagering opportunity. FIG. 42 is a flow
chart of illustrative sub-steps of step 4102 (FIG. 41). The fantasy
sports contest application may provide to the user the ability to
at least partially define the wagering opportunity at step 4202.
For example, the fantasy sports contest application may provide to
the user the ability to define a wagering opportunity description
(e.g., wagering opportunity description 3308 (FIG. 33), 3402 (FIG.
34), 3602 (FIG. 36), etc.) by entering information into a data
field such as data field 3406 (FIG. 34) or using one or more
pull-down menus such as pull down menu 3312 (FIG. 33). The fantasy
sports contest application may provide to the user the ability to
at least partially define other wagering terms such as, for
example, to whom a wagering opportunity is directed (3612 (FIG.
36), 3504 (FIG. 35)). The fantasy sports contest application may
define the wagering opportunity to be the wagering opportunity at
least partially defined by the user at step 4204.
[0193] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest may determine whether the wagering opportunity at
least partially defined by the user is a valid wagering
opportunity. FIG. 43 is a flow chart of illustrative sub-steps
involved in step 4204 (FIG. 2). The fantasy sports contest
application may determine whether the wagering opportunity at least
partially defined by the user is a valid wagering opportunity at
step 4302. For example, the fantasy sports contest may determine
whether the wagering opportunity at least partially defined by the
user is in compliance with, for example, both the laws governing a
user's geographic region (e.g., indicated by data from rules data
source 104 (FIG. 1) and fantasy sports contest and wagering data
source 204 (FIG. 2)) and the rules information of display region
1002 (FIG. 10). If the wagering opportunity is valid, the fantasy
sports contest application may define the wagering opportunity to
be the wagering opportunity at least partially defined by the user
at step 4304. At step 4306, the fantasy sports contest application
may display to the user information indicating confirmation of the
wagering opportunity (e.g., the information of overlay 3802 (FIG.
38)). If the wagering opportunity is invalid, the fantasy sports
contest application may not define the wagering opportunity to be
the wagering opportunity at least partially defined by the user at
step 4308. At steps 4310 and 4312, the fantasy sports contest
application may display to the user information indicating that the
wagering opportunity is invalid and provide to the user the ability
to at least partially redefine the wagering opportunity (e.g., as
shown in overlay 3707 (FIG. 37)).
[0194] Returning to FIG. 41, the fantasy sports contest application
may display information indicating the wagering opportunity to the
user at step 4104. For example, the fantasy sports contest
application may display the information for available wagering
opportunities of FIGS. 27-29 at step 4104.
[0195] The fantasy sports contest application may receive a user
indication of the wagering opportunity at step 4106. For example,
the user may use remote control 318 (FIG. 3) or other suitable user
input device to, for example, indicate a wagering opportunity to
the fantasy sports contest application.
[0196] The fantasy sports contest application may accept the wager
for the user at step 4108. In some embodiments of the present
invention (e.g., in embodiments in which the fantasy sports contest
application may display to the user information for wagering
opportunities that are not necessarily in compliance with rules
governing wagering for the user), the fantasy sports contest
application may determine whether the user has selected a valid
wagering opportunity. FIG. 44 is a flow chart of illustrative
sub-steps of step 4108 (FIG. 41). At step 4402, the fantasy sports
contest application may determine whether the user has indicated a
valid wagering opportunity at step 4402 (e.g., a wagering
opportunity in compliance with the rules information of display
region 1002 (FIG. 10). If the user has indicated a valid wagering
opportunity, the fantasy sports contest application may accept the
wager for the user at step 4404. At step 4406, the fantasy sports
contest application may display to the user information indicating
confirmation of the wager (e.g., the information of overlay 3102
(FIG. 31). If the user has indicated an invalid wagering
opportunity, the fantasy sports contest application may not accept
the wager for the user at step 4408. At step 4410, the fantasy
sports contest application may display to the user information
indicating that the wagering opportunity is invalid for the user
(e.g., in an overlay similar to overlay 3702 (FIG. 37).
[0197] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may define a limit on the wagering
amount of a wager. FIG. 45 is a flow chart of illustrative steps
involved in determining a limit on the wagering amount of a wager.
The fantasy sports contest application may determine an account
balance of the user at step 4502 (e.g., account balance in monetary
funds 3202 (FIG. 32), account balance in points 3204 (FIG. 32),
etc.) The fantasy sports contest application may define a limit on
the wagering amount of the wager to be less than or equal to the
account balance of the user at step 4504.
[0198] FIG. 46 is flowchart of illustrative steps involved in
defining a limit on the wagering amount of a wager in another
embodiment of the present invention. The fantasy sports contest may
provide to a league commissioner of a fantasy sports contest league
the ability to define a limit on the wagering amount of a wager at
step 4602. For example, the fantasy sports contest application may
provide to a league commissioner the ability to define a limit on
intra-league wagering 1214 (FIG. 12), inter-league wagering 1216,
and out-of-league wagering 1218. At step 4604, the fantasy sports
contest application may define the limit on the wagering amount of
the wager to be the limit on the wagering amount defined by the
league commissioner.
[0199] FIG. 47 is a flow chart of illustrative sub-steps involved
in providing to a user the ability to use a fantasy sports contest
application to access fantasy sports contests and wagering
opportunities in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention. The fantasy sports contest application may provide to a
user the ability to participate in a fantasy sports contest at step
4702. For example, the fantasy sports contest application may
display to user option 825 (FIG. 8) to start or participate in a
new fantasy sports contest league. At step 4704, the fantasy sports
contest application may determine whether to provide to the user
the ability to use the fantasy sports contest application to place
a wager related to the fantasy sports contest. In some embodiments
of the present invention, the fantasy sports contest application
may determine whether to provide to the user the ability to use the
fantasy sports contest application to place a wager unrelated to
the fantasy sports contest.
[0200] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fantasy
sports contest application may provide to a user the ability to
enable wagering related to the fantasy sports contest. FIG. 48 is a
flow chart of illustrative sub-steps of step 4704 (FIG. 47). At
step 4802, the fantasy sports contest application may provide to
the user an option to enable wagering related to the fantasy sports
contest. For example, the fantasy sports contest application may
provide to the user option 1208 (FIG. 12) to enable intra-league
wagering, option 1210 to enable inter-league wagering, and option
1212 to enable out-of-league wagering. The fantasy sports contest
application may receive a user indication (e.g., from remote
control 318 (FIG. 3)) of the option to enable wagering at step
4804. At step 4806, the fantasy sports contest application may
enable wagering for the user (e.g., the fantasy sports contest
application may include information for wagering opportunities and
wagers in fantasy sports contest application display screens).
[0201] In some embodiments of the invention, the fantasy sports
contest application may determine for the user whether to provide
to the user the ability to use the fantasy sports contest
application to place a wager related to the fantasy sports contest
application. FIG. 49 is a flow chart of another embodiment of
illustrative sub-steps of step 4704 (FIG. 47). The fantasy sports
contest may determine whether wagering for money is legally
permitted in the user's geographic region at step 4902. For
example, the fantasy sports application may use application data
from rules data source 104 (FIG. 1), wagering data source 110,
fantasy sports contest and wagering data source 204 (FIG. 2),
external data source 220 or any other suitable data source or
combination of such sources to determine whether wagering for money
is legally permitted in a user's geographic region. If wagering for
money is legally permitted in the user's geographic region, the
fantasy sports contest application may provide to the user the
ability to use the fantasy sports contest application to place a
wager for money at step 4904 (e.g., the fantasy sports contest
application may provide to the user the ability to accept wager
2806 (FIG. 28) for "$20" 2808, provided the user proves that the
user is over the legal age by, for example, entering valid credit
card information using display screen 32 (FIG. 32)). If wagering
for money is not legally permitted in the user's geographic region,
the fantasy sports contest application may not provide to the user
the ability to use the fantasy sports contest application to place
a wager for money at step 4906 (e.g., the fantasy sports contest
application may prevent wagering opportunities for money from being
displayed to the user).
[0202] The fantasy sports contest application may provide to the
user the ability to use the fantasy sports contest application to
wager for other than money at step 4908 (e.g., in addition to or as
an alternative to wagering for money) provided that the wagering is
legally permitted. For example, the fantasy sports contest may
provide to the user the ability to use the fantasy sports contest
to wager for non-cash prizes (e.g., a trophy) or points redeemable
for non-cash prizes if wagering for money is not legally permitted
in a user's geographic region.
[0203] Thus it is seen that systems and methods for providing
fantasy sports contests with wagering opportunities are provided.
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the present
invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments,
which are presented for purposes of illustration rather than of
limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims
that follow.
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