U.S. patent application number 16/017532 was filed with the patent office on 2019-12-26 for systems and methods for automatically generating scoring scenarios with video of event.
The applicant listed for this patent is Rovi Guides, Inc.. Invention is credited to Richard Daniel Lee, Ida Wahlquist-Ortiz.
Application Number | 20190394521 16/017532 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 68617614 |
Filed Date | 2019-12-26 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190394521 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wahlquist-Ortiz; Ida ; et
al. |
December 26, 2019 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY GENERATING SCORING SCENARIOS
WITH VIDEO OF EVENT
Abstract
Methods and systems are disclosed herein for automatically
indicating, during display of video of an event, actions in event
that could satisfy side-game scoring scenarios. This may be
accomplished by a media application that generates a live video of
an event and retrieves data relating to a current status of a
side-game in which a user is participating. The media application
determines that a next play of the event could affect an outcome of
the side-game and, in response, determines a particular action
within the event that could affect the outcome of the side-game.
The media application generates for display, within the video, an
overlay on top of a playing space of the event, the overlay
indicating where the particular action would need to occur to
affect the outcome of the side-game.
Inventors: |
Wahlquist-Ortiz; Ida;
(Mountain View, CA) ; Lee; Richard Daniel; (San
Francisco, CA) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Rovi Guides, Inc. |
San Jose |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
68617614 |
Appl. No.: |
16/017532 |
Filed: |
June 25, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16016084 |
Jun 22, 2018 |
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16017532 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/4316 20130101;
A63F 13/828 20140902; H04N 21/2187 20130101; H04N 21/2353
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 21/431 20060101
H04N021/431; H04N 21/2187 20060101 H04N021/2187; A63F 13/828
20060101 A63F013/828 |
Claims
1-50. (canceled)
51. A method for automatically indicating, during display of video
of a live sporting event, actions in the live sporting event that
could satisfy fantasy sports scoring scenarios, the method
comprising: generating for display the video of the live sporting
event; retrieving, from a memory, current status data of a fantasy
sports event in which a user is participating; identifying players
from a roster maintained by the user for the fantasy sports event,
wherein each of the players is participating in the live sporting
event; obtaining a set of rules that define scoring opportunities
in the fantasy sports event for the user as a function of possible
actions and players in the sporting event; obtaining data
representing current circumstances of the live sporting event;
applying the set of rules to the data representing the current
circumstance of the live sporting event to identify possible
scoring scenarios in the fantasy sports event and locations on a
playing space of the live sporting event that correspond to the
possible scoring scenarios; and generating for display, with the
video of the live sporting event, information about the possible
scoring scenarios including identification of the locations on the
playing space of the live sporting event that correspond to the
possible scoring scenarios.
52. The method of claim 51, wherein generating for display, with
the video of the live sporting event, information about the
possible scoring scenarios comprises: mapping coordinates in the
video of the live sporting event to the locations on the playing
space of the live sporting event that correspond to the possible
scoring scenarios; determining a graphical overlay for the mapped
locations on the playing space of the live sporting event to
indicate the corresponding possible scoring scenarios; and
modifying the video of the live sporting event to include the
graphical overlay.
53. The method of claim 51, further comprising: determining whether
a first scoring scenario in the possible scoring scenarios would
change who leads the fantasy sports event; and in response to
determining that the first scoring scenario would change who leads
the fantasy sports event, emphasizing the information about the
first scoring scenario in comparison to information about other
possible scoring scenarios.
54. The method of claim 51, further comprising: determining a final
player from the roster maintained by the user for the fantasy
sports event, wherein the final player is the last player on the
roster that can impact who leads the fantasy sports event; tracking
when the final player is active on the playing space of the live
sporting event; and emphasizing the final player in the video of
the live sporting event as compared with other participants of the
live sporting event.
55. The method of claim 51, further comprising: identifying a
second set of possible scoring scenarios for a second user
participating in the fantasy sports event; and generating for
display, with the video of the live sporting event, information
about the second set of possible scoring scenarios including
identification associating the second set of possible scoring
scenarios with the second user.
56. The method of claim 55, wherein information about the second
set of possible scoring scenarios is generated on a secondary
display device used by the second user.
57. The method of claim 51, wherein generating for display, with
the video of the live sporting event, information about the
possible scoring scenarios including identification of the
locations on the playing space of the live sporting event that
correspond to the possible scoring scenarios further comprises:
establishing communication with a secondary display device; and
providing the secondary display device with the information about
the possible scoring scenarios for display on the secondary display
device.
58. The method of claim 51, further comprising: analyzing a first
of the possible scoring scenarios to determine a player
participating in the live sporting event whose performance could
satisfy the first possible scoring scenario; retrieving statistics
of the determined player relevant to the first possible scoring
scenario; and generating for display, with the information about
the possible scoring scenarios, information about the statistics of
the determined player.
59. The method of claim 51, further comprising: receiving a
selection of a possible scoring scenario from a user; analyzing the
selected possible scoring scenario to determine a player
participating in the live sporting event whose performance could
satisfy the selected possible scoring scenario; and emphasizing, in
the video of the live sporting event, the determined player.
60. The method of claim 51, further comprising: tracking a playing
object in the video of the live sporting event; determining that
the current circumstances of the live sporting event are changed
based on a current location of the playing object in comparison to
a previous location of the playing object; applying the set of
rules to data representing the changed circumstance of the live
sporting event to identify updated scoring scenarios in the fantasy
sports event; and generating for display, with the video of the
live sporting event, information about the updated scoring
scenarios.
61. A system for automatically indicating, during display of video
of a live sporting event, actions in the live sporting event that
could satisfy fantasy sports scoring scenarios, the system
comprising: communications circuitry; and control circuitry
configured to: generate for display the video of the live sporting
event; retrieve, using the communications circuitry, current status
data of a fantasy sports event in which a user is participating;
identify players from a roster maintained by the user for the
fantasy sports event, wherein each of the players is participating
in the live sporting event; obtain a set of rules that define
scoring opportunities in the fantasy sports event for the user as a
function of possible actions and players in the sporting event;
obtain data representing current circumstances of the live sporting
event; apply the set of rules to the data representing the current
circumstance of the live sporting event to identify possible
scoring scenarios in the fantasy sports event and locations on a
playing space of the live sporting event that correspond to the
possible scoring scenarios; and generate for display, with the
video of the live sporting event, information about the possible
scoring scenarios including identification of the locations on the
playing space of the live sporting event that correspond to the
possible scoring scenarios.
62. The system of claim 61, wherein the control circuitry is
further configured, when generating for display, with the video of
the live sporting event, information about the possible scoring
scenarios, to: map coordinates in the video of the live sporting
event to the locations on the playing space of the live sporting
event that correspond to the possible scoring scenarios; determine
a graphical overlay for the mapped locations on the playing space
of the live sporting event to indicate the corresponding possible
scoring scenarios; and modify the video of the live sporting event
to include the graphical overlay.
63. The system of claim 61, wherein the control circuitry is
further configured to: determine whether a first scoring scenario
in the possible scoring scenarios would change who leads the
fantasy sports event; and in response to determining that the first
scoring scenario would change who leads the fantasy sports event,
emphasize the information about the first scoring scenario in
comparison to information about other possible scoring
scenarios.
64. The system of claim 61, wherein the control circuitry is
further configured to: determine a final player from the roster
maintained by the user for the fantasy sports event, wherein the
final player is the last player on the roster that can impact who
leads the fantasy sports event; track when the final player is
active on the playing space of the live sporting event; and
emphasize the final player in the video of the live sporting event
as compared with other participants of the live sporting event.
65. The system of claim 61, wherein the control circuitry is
further configured to: identify a second set of possible scoring
scenarios for a second user participating in the fantasy sports
event; and generate for display, with the video of the live
sporting event, information about the second set of possible
scoring scenarios including identification associating the second
set of possible scoring scenarios with the second user.
66. The system of claim 65, wherein information about the second
set of possible scoring scenarios is generated on a secondary
display device used by the second user.
67. The system of claim 61, wherein the control circuitry is
further configured, when generating for display, with the video of
the live sporting event, information about the possible scoring
scenarios including identification of the locations on the playing
space of the live sporting event that correspond to the possible
scoring scenarios, to: establish, using the communications
circuitry, communication with a secondary display device; and
provide, using the communications circuitry, the secondary display
device with the information about the possible scoring scenarios
for display on the secondary display device.
68. The system of claim 61, wherein the control circuitry is
further configured to: analyze a first of the possible scoring
scenarios to determine a player participating in the live sporting
event whose performance could satisfy the first possible scoring
scenario; retrieve, using the communication circuitry, statistics
of the determined player relevant to the first possible scoring
scenario; and generate for display, with the information about the
possible scoring scenarios, information about the statistics of the
determined player.
69. The system of claim 61, wherein the control circuitry is
further configured to: receive a selection of a possible scoring
scenario from a user; analyze the selected possible scoring
scenario to determine a player participating in the live sporting
event whose performance could satisfy the selected possible scoring
scenario; and emphasize, in the video of the live sporting event,
the determined player.
70. The system of claim 61, wherein the control circuitry is
further configured to: track a playing object in the video of the
live sporting event; determine that the current circumstances of
the live sporting event are changed based on a current location of
the playing object in comparison to a previous location of the
playing object; apply the set of rules to data representing the
changed circumstance of the live sporting event to identify updated
scoring scenarios in the fantasy sports event; and generate for
display, with the video of the live sporting event, information
about the updated scoring scenarios.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Users often watch video of an event and desire supplemental
content related to the event. For example, a user may watch a match
between electronic sports participants and desire to see
statistical information related to the performance of participants
in the event. In another example, fantasy sports are common
side-games in which individuals participate during amateur and
professional sports seasons. Fantasy sports are typically games
played by individuals that choose players, i.e., professional
athletes, from a sports league to comprise that individual's roster
and compete against other users based on the statistics generated
by the players during real-life sports contests. For example, an
individual may join a service that allows the individual to compete
against other players subscribed to the same service. Typically,
each user selects a subset of all the players in a corresponding
professional league as the user's fantasy roster. Then, in a given
time period (e.g., during a week or day), the statistical
performance of each player on an individual's roster is used to
determine, for example, how many points the individual scored in
that week as compared to other players in the fantasy sports
league. Typically, one individual is matched up against one or more
other participants in a fantasy league for a given time period to
determine how well that individual did in the time period. Often
times, an individual selects a subset of a roster to be active and
benches other players for a given time period (e.g., a week
[0002] For individuals that participate in a side-game, e.g.,
fantasy sports contest, the performance of the players on the
individual's active roster can be very important to the individual.
As side-games have become increasingly popular, users frequently
view sports programming in order to assess the play of participants
important to a user's side-game, e.g., a fantasy sports roster, as
opposed to watching whether or not a particular team wins.
Therefore, traditional commentary and added features (e.g.,
statistical analyses displayed on-screen during a game), which
normally concern the event as a whole, are of less interest to
users viewing events to assess the outcome of their side-games,
e.g., to assess the play of members on a fantasy sports team.
Moreover, without commentary or added features addressing
particular players, it is often difficult for a user to determine
how a member of his fantasy roster can score points for the user's
fantasy team and determine whether or not members of his fantasy
team can change the outcome of a side-game, e.g., fantasy sports
matchup. And tracking the individual's performance may be just as
important to the individual, if not more important, than the
outcome of the event, e.g., live sporting event between two
professional teams or electronic sporting event such as a
first-person action tournament of multiplayer online battle arena
tournament. In such cases, individuals desire opportunities to keep
track of the performance of their roster and especially of the
impact of the performance of their active players on the outcome of
fantasy sports matchups.
SUMMARY
[0003] As the availability of technology continues to increase so
does users' access to information at all times. In the space of
electronic sports matches and events, e.g., first person action
gaming or multiplayer online battle arenas, the action moves
quickly and viewer want constant updates on the actions and
performance of all user in the event. And as more and more users
participate in fantasy sports to supplement their sports viewing,
these users frequently consume sports video through a display
device and, on a separate device, access information pertaining to
their fantasy sports contest. Indeed, conventional presentation of
a live sporting event is unable to account for a user's
participation in a fantasy sports contest, as video of the live
sporting event is not personalized to account for a user's
participation in fantasy sports. Thus, users often watch a live
sporting event on one device while accessing information pertaining
to their fantasy sports participation on a second device.
Furthermore, users may not be aware when certain sporting events
are in situations with the potential to impact their fantasy sports
matchups.
[0004] Accordingly, to overcome the problems of distracting user
from an event, systems and methods are described herein for a media
application that display supplemental information with an event.
For example, systems and methods disclosed allows users to watch a
live sporting event without requiring user access second devices to
check on the status of the fantasy sports events. In some
embodiments, systems and methods are described herein for a media
application that automatically detects side-game, e.g., fantasy
sports, scoring scenarios possible within a live sporting event and
present information about those scenarios to a user watching the
live sporting event. For example, a scoring scenario is a situation
that is possible given the current circumstances of a live sporting
event that has the potential to provide a user with fantasy sports
points. These systems and methods also allow a user to identify
situations in various sporting events with different impacts on the
user's fantasy sports matchups. In some embodiments, a media
application may generate for display a live video of an event. For
example, a user may instruct a media application to generate for
display a current matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the
San Diego Chargers playing in the National Football League ("NFL").
The media application may retrieve data relating to a current
status, at a current time, of a side-game in which a user is
participating, the side-game being based on the performance of
participants in the event. For example, the media application may
get information about a fantasy sports matchup in which the user is
participating such as a weekly fantasy football match against
another individual. The media application may also determine, at
the current time, that a next play of the event could affect an
outcome of the side-game. For example, the media application may
determine that the user is within 4 points of winning the fantasy
sports matchup. In response to determining that the next play could
affect the outcome of the side-game, the media application may
determine a particular action within the sporting event that could
affect the outcome of the side-game. For example, the media
application may determine that the user has a running back from the
San Francisco 49ers on the user's active fantasy roster and, based
on the current circumstances of the match between the 49ers and the
Chargers, the user's running back is in position to score 6 points
if the running back achieves a rushing touchdown. In some
embodiments, the media application may generate for display, within
the video of the event, an overlay on top of a playing space of the
event, the overlay indicating where the particular action would
need to occur to affect the outcome of the side-game. For example,
the media application may display a highlight on the user's running
back (e.g., a halo around the running back in red and gold) along
with a marker at the end-zone (e.g., a red and gold line on the
goal line) along with textual annotation of the possible fantasy
sports implications.
[0005] In some aspects of the disclosure, systems and methods are
described for automatically indicating, during display of video of
an event, e.g., a live sporting event, actions in the event that
could satisfy side-game, e.g., fantasy sports, scoring scenarios.
In some embodiments, a media application generates for display a
video of the event. As described above, this could be a current
match between the San Francisco 49ers and San Diego Chargers. In
some embodiments, the media application may retrieve, from a
memory, current status data of a side-game in which a user is
participating. For example, the user may be in a fantasy football
league and the media application may retrieve the current status of
the user's weekly matchup (e.g., the user's active roster, the
user's opponent's active roster, the current score for each user in
the matchup fantasy matchup, etc.). In this example, the user's
weekly matchup is a fantasy sports event in which the user is
participating.
[0006] In some embodiments, the media application may identify
players participating in the event from a roster maintained by the
user for the side-game. For example, the media application may
identify players from the user's fantasy team roster that play on
either the San Francisco 49ers or the San Diego Chargers and that
are active on the user's roster. In some embodiments, the media
application may obtain a set of rules that define scoring
opportunities in the side-game for the user as a function of
possible actions and players in the event. For example, the media
application may determine that the user has an active running back
on his fantasy football roster that plays for the San Francisco
49ers, and the media application may retrieve a rule that indicates
that the user has a scoring opportunity if the user's running back
rushes for a touchdown (e.g., the user may receive 6 points toward
the user's fantasy score for the week if the user's running back
rushes for a touchdown).
[0007] In some embodiments, the media application may obtain data
representing current circumstances of the event. For example, the
media application may obtain information specifying the team with
current possession of the football, the current line of scrimmage,
the current players on the field of play, the amount of time
remaining in the live sporting event, the score of the professional
teams in the live sporting event, etc. In some embodiments, the
media application may apply the set of rules to the data
representing the current circumstances of the event to identify
possible scoring scenarios in the side-game and locations on a
playing space of the event that correspond to the possible scoring
scenarios. For example, if the user's active running back is
currently on the field of play and the line of scrimmage is on the
San Francisco 49ers' 6-yard line, then the set of rules may
indicate that the user has a 6-point scoring opportunity. Depending
on the use case for the media application, the playing space of the
event may be a physical playing space such as a football field or a
virtual playing space such as a virtual environment in an
electronic sports game.
[0008] In some embodiments, the media application may further
determine that, based on the score of side-game matchup, a 6-point
scoring opportunity may give the user the lead in the current
side-game matchup. In some embodiments, the media application may
generate for display, with the video of the event, information
about the possible scoring scenarios including identification of
the locations on the playing space of the event that correspond to
the possible scoring scenarios. For example, the media application
may present a textual list of possible scoring opportunities (e.g.,
rushing touchdown scores 6 points) including information indicating
that the scoring opportunity occurs at the San Francisco 49ers'
goal line.
[0009] The rules-based approach to identifying scoring
opportunities for a user's side-game matchup allows the systems and
methods described herein to overcome several problems. For example,
the rules-based approach provides a system that is agile enough to
cover multiple scoring systems that contain different rules. In
fact, a media application may retrieve or be provided with rules
stored by a service or defined by a user that can be used by the
media application to identify scoring opportunities without
hard-coding the rules. Furthermore, the systems and methods can be
applied to a litany of events and sport by changing the rules that
define the scoring system of that event or sport. Additionally, the
media application, using a rules-based approach to identify scoring
opportunities, solves yet another problem of keeping users from
being distracted by other devices by providing individualized
information to viewers that relates to their interest and augments
the viewing of live sporting event.
[0010] In some embodiments, the media application generates for
display, with the video of the event, information about the
possible scoring scenarios comprises using the following
techniques. The media application may map coordinates in the video
of the event to the locations on the playing space of the event
that correspond to the possible scoring scenarios. For example, the
media application may identify the location of the San Francisco
49ers' goal line in the video of the live sporting event (e.g., the
xy-coordinates of the goal line).
[0011] In some embodiments, the media application may correlate
coordinates in a three-dimensional model of the playing space of
the event with the video of the event to determine coordinates in
the video of the playing space that correlate with locations of
interest. In some embodiments, the media application may generate a
graphical overlay for the mapped locations on the playing space of
the event to indicate the corresponding possible scoring scenarios.
For example, the media application may generate a red and gold line
over the goal line and a red and gold halo around the user's
running back on the playing surface. In some embodiments, the media
application modifies the video of the event to include the
graphical overlay. For example, the media application may overlay
the graphical information and textual information over the video of
the event, e.g., sporting match.
[0012] In some embodiments, the media application may further
determine whether a first scoring scenario in the possible scoring
scenarios would change the winner of the side-game matchup. For
example, the user may have a 3-point scoring opportunity and a
6-point scoring opportunity at the same time the user may be within
4 points of fantasy scoring. Thus, the 6-point scoring opportunity
could change the winner of the fantasy sports event. In response to
determining that the first scoring scenario could change who leads
the side-game matchup, the media application may emphasize the
information about the first scoring scenario in comparison to
information about other possible scoring scenarios. For example,
the media application may generate information about the 6-point
scoring opportunity in a different color, thicker text, or with
special markings to emphasize the fact that the 6-point scoring
opportunity could change the winner of the fantasy sports
matchup.
[0013] In some embodiments, the media application may further
determine a final player from the roster maintained by the user for
the side-game matchup. In other words, the media application may
determine there are no other players on the roster that can impact
who leads the side-game. For example, the media application may
determine that the user's running back is the last active player
from the user's fantasy sports roster and that the user has no
other players available from his active fantasy sports roster that
can score points in the user's fantasy sports matchup. In some
embodiments, the media application tracks when the final player is
active on the playing space of the event. For example, the media
application may employ facial recognition or optical character
recognition to identity a name or number on a player's jersey. In
another example, the media application may receive a list of
players on the play surface of an event from a data service. In
some embodiments, the media application may emphasize the final
player in the video of the event as compared with other
participants of the event. For example, the media application may
include a special icon indicating the importance of the athlete to
the user's fantasy sports matchup.
[0014] In some embodiments, the media application may identify a
second set of possible scoring scenarios for a second user
participating in the side-game matchup. For example, the user may
be watching the live sporting event with the user's opponent in the
fantasy sports matchup and the media application may use techniques
similar to those described above to identify scoring opportunities
for the user's opponent.
[0015] In some embodiments, the media application may generate for
display, with the video of the event, information about the second
set of possible scoring scenarios including identification
associating the second set of possible scoring scenarios with the
second user. In some embodiments, the media application may
generate information about the second set of possible scoring
scenarios on a secondary display device used by the second user.
For example, the user's opponent may have access to a second
display such a user tablet, mobile device, virtual reality goggles,
or other personal display device.
[0016] In some embodiments, the media application may generate for
display, with the video of the event, information about the
possible scoring scenarios using the following techniques. The
media application may establish communication with a secondary
display device. For example, the media application may communicate
with a user tablet, mobile device, virtual reality goggles, or
other personal display device. In some embodiments, the media
application may obtain, from the secondary display device, a
relative position of the secondary display device in comparison to
a primary display device that is displaying the video of the event.
For example, the media application may receive an indication that
the secondary display device is to the left of the primary display
device. In some embodiments, the media application provides the
secondary display device with the information about the possible
scoring scenarios for display on the secondary display device. In
some embodiments, the media application uses the relative position
of the secondary display device to determine which information to
generate for display on the secondary display.
[0017] In some embodiments, the media application analyzes a first
of the possible scoring scenarios to determine a player
participating in the event whose performance could satisfy the
first possible scoring scenario. For example, the media application
may determine that a rushing touchdown scoring scenario can be
satisfied by "J. McKinnon," a running back on the San Francisco
49ers and also on the user's active fantasy roster. The media
application may then retrieve statistics of the determined player
relevant to the first possible scoring scenario. For example, the
media application may determine that J. McKinnon on average rushes
for 2.3 touchdowns per game and has already rushed for 2 touchdowns
and therefore there is a low probability that J. McKinnon will rush
for a third touchdown. In some embodiments, the media application
may utilize additional statistics, such as the yards per carry for
the career, yards per carry against the particular opponent, yards
per carry in the game, etc., along with information about the
current situation of the game, such as the current line of
scrimmage. In some embodiments, the media application may generate
for display, with the information about the possible scoring
scenarios, information about the statistics of the determined
player.
[0018] In some embodiments, the media application receives a
selection of a possible scoring scenario from a user. For example,
the media application may receive a gesture selection indicating
the user selected "rushing touchdown" from a list of possible
scoring scenarios. In some embodiments, the media application
analyzes the selected possible scoring scenarios to determine a
player participating in the event whose performance could satisfy
the first possible scoring scenario. For example, if the selected
scoring scenario is a rushing touchdown, then the media application
may determine that J. McKinnon from the San Francisco 49ers can
satisfy the selected scenario. In some embodiments, the media
application may emphasize, in the video of the event, the
determined player.
[0019] In some embodiments, the media application may track a
playing object in the video of the event. For example, an image
recognition system in the media application may use the size,
shape, or color of different playing objects such as a football or
other object. The media application may determine that the current
circumstances of the event are changed based on a current location
of the playing object in comparison to a previous location of the
playing object. For example, if the line of scrimmage was
originally determined to be at the San Francisco 49ers' 45-yard
line and the ball is tracked from the 45-yard line to the 30-yard
line, then the media application may determine the circumstances of
the event have changed. In some embodiments, the media application
may apply the set of rules to data representing the changed
circumstance of the event to identify updated scoring scenarios in
the side-game matchup and generate for display, with the video of
the event, information about the updated scoring scenarios.
[0020] In some embodiments, the media application may track a
player in the event during an active portion of the event, e.g.,
during a football play. As the action progresses, the media
application annotates the video of the event with information
regarding the points the user is accumulating during the action of
the event, e.g., in realtime. For example, if the user has the
49ers' running back on his fantasy roster and the running back is
running the ball during a play, then the media application may
annotate the display with a notation of the points the user is
gaining based on the distance the running back carries the ball.
The media application may display the points in any increment of
accumulation, e.g., in 0.1-point increments or 1-point increments.
This may appear as a score total in the corner of a display or as
an annotation in a cloud or box near the player of interest. In
some embodiments, the media application may display the amount of
points needed for a user to win his fantasy sports matchup and
subtract points from the needed amount as the user scores points in
a given play. In some embodiments, the user's total score is
updated as the user scores points during action.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The above and other objects and advantages of the disclosure
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:
[0022] FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a display of
fantasy sports scoring opportunities presented with video of a live
sporting event in accordance with some embodiments of the
disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a display of
fantasy sports scoring opportunities on a secondary display while
video of a live sporting event is displayed on a primary display in
accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure;
[0024] FIG. 3 depicts another illustrative embodiment of a display
of fantasy sports scoring opportunities presented with video of a
live sporting event in accordance with some embodiments of the
disclosure;
[0025] FIG. 4 shows an illustrative embodiment of a display screen
that may be used to provide media application listings and other
media guidance information, in accordance with some embodiments of
the disclosure;
[0026] FIG. 5 shows another illustrative embodiment of a display
screen that may be used to provide media application listings, in
accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure;
[0027] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an illustrative user equipment
(UE) device in accordance with some embodiments of the
disclosure;
[0028] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an illustrative media system in
accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 8 depicts an illustrative rules engine for identifying
scoring opportunities in a fantasy sports matchup in accordance
with some embodiments of the disclosure;
[0030] FIG. 9 depicts an illustrative set of data structures for
defining a scoring system of a fantasy sports league in accordance
with some embodiments of the disclosure;
[0031] FIG. 10 depicts an illustrative set of scoring scenarios for
a fantasy football scoring system in accordance with some
embodiments of the disclosure;
[0032] FIG. 11 depicts a set of data structures for defining a
scoring rule for a running rule in a fantasy football scoring
system in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure;
[0033] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of illustrative steps for generating
a display of information about fantasy sports scoring opportunities
in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure;
[0034] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of illustrative steps for mapping
information about scoring opportunities onto video of a live
sporting event in accordance with some embodiments of the
disclosure;
[0035] FIG. 14 is a flowchart of illustrative steps for emphasizing
a player on a user's fantasy sports roster in video of a live
sporting event in accordance with some embodiments of the
disclosure;
[0036] FIG. 15 is a flowchart of illustrative steps for providing a
secondary display device with information about scoring
opportunities in a fantasy sporting event in accordance with some
embodiments of the disclosure;
[0037] FIG. 16 is a flowchart of illustrative steps for displaying
information about statistics of a player on a user's fantasy sports
roster related to a scoring opportunity that the player could
satisfy in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure;
[0038] FIG. 17 is a flowchart of illustrative steps for emphasizing
a selected player in a video of a live sporting event in accordance
with some embodiments of the disclosure; and;
[0039] FIG. 18 is a flowchart of illustrative steps for updating
the scoring opportunities based on changed circumstances in a live
sporting event in accordance with some embodiments of the
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a display of
fantasy sports scoring opportunities presented with video of a live
sporting event in accordance with some embodiments of the
disclosure. In FIG. 1, a user equipment 100 (i.e., a television)
implements a media application using control circuitry. The
functionality of user equipment, control circuitry, and the media
application is described in further detail with respect to FIGS.
4-7.
[0041] In FIG. 1, the media application is generating video 105 of
a live sporting event. For example, video 105 may be of a National
Football League ("NFL") game between the San Francisco 49ers
("49ers") and the San Diego Chargers. Along with the video 105 of
the live sporting event, the media application may generate an
informational display 120 that includes information about a fantasy
sports contest in which a user (i.e., a viewer of the live sporting
event) is participating.
[0042] For demonstrative purposes, the example of FIG. 1 depicts a
football game between plays. The football (i.e., the playing
object) is located on the 49ers' 18-yard line and the 49ers are
depicted as having possession of the football (i.e., on offense).
While the descriptions below are made using the example of a live
sporting event and a fantasy sports event, a person of skill in the
art would apply the techniques equally to other events and other
side-games.
[0043] The media application may retrieve data relating to a
current status, at a current time, of a side-game in which a user
is participating, the side-game being based on the sporting event.
For example, the media application may retrieve information about a
fantasy sports matchup in which the user is participating, such as
a weekly fantasy football match against another individual. In some
embodiments, the media application may access information from a
remote server by way of an application programming interface to
retrieve information about live sporting events and the user's
side-game. In some embodiments, the information about live sporting
events and the user's side-game may be transmitted with the sports
programming (e.g., from media content source 716 (FIG. 7)) as
metadata for the media application. In some embodiments, as
described herein, the media application may analyze video of live
sporting events to determine information about the circumstances of
the live sporting events such as the identities of players on the
field, the location of the playing object, the team with possession
of the playing object, etc.
[0044] The media application may also determine, at the current
time, that a next play of the sporting event could affect an
outcome of the side-game. For example, the media application may
determine that the user is within 4 points of winning the fantasy
sports matchup. In response to determining that the next play could
affect the outcome of the side-game, the media application may
determine a particular action within the sporting event that could
affect the outcome of the side-game. In some embodiments, the media
application may generate for display, within the live video 105, an
overlay on top of a playing space of the sporting event, the
overlay indicating where the particular action would need to occur
to affect the outcome of the side-game. For example, the media
application may display a highlight 129 on the user's running back
128 (e.g., a halo around the running back in red and gold) along
with a marker 130 at the end-zone (e.g., a red and gold line on the
goal line) and a textual annotation 135 of the possible fantasy
sports implications.
[0045] In some embodiments, the media application may present a
list of scoring opportunities 125 to the user. For example, if the
user has a fantasy sports roster consisting of different players
from different teams, then the user may have scoring opportunities
in the live sporting event based on having one or more players from
the San Francisco 49ers or the San Diego Chargers. In the example
of FIG. 1, the identified scoring opportunities are listed as a
35-yard field goal, a 10-yard run, and an 18-yard touchdown run
which yield 3 points, 1 point, and 7 points respectively for the
user in his fantasy sports matchup. In some embodiments, the media
application determines the scoring opportunities based on the
circumstances of the live sporting event (e.g., the 49ers being in
possession of the football at the 18-yard line) and the user's
fantasy sports roster, which in this example includes at least the
49ers' placekicker and running back.
[0046] In some embodiments, the media application may be in
communication with a service that maintains information about the
user's fantasy sports league. For example, the media application
may be in communication with a server maintained by a service such
as DraftKings, Yahoo!, ESPN, or Fan Duel. The media application may
access the information using a service API, remote procedure call,
or by, for example, scraping data. The media application may obtain
a username, password, or other login credentials unique to the user
to allow the media application to retrieve information
particularized to the user. In some embodiments, the media
application may obtain a username or team name that allows the
media application to identify the user's roster information from
among a league of users. In some embodiments, the information also
contains the performance of the user's fantasy team during a given
period of time, e.g., during a week, and/or includes information
about the real life sporting events that indicates the points in
the fantasy sports league.
[0047] In some embodiments, the media application may retrieve,
from a memory, current status data of a fantasy sports event in
which a user is participating. For example, the user may be in a
fantasy football league, and the media application may retrieve the
current status of the user's weekly matchup (e.g., the user's
active roster, the user's opponent's active roster, the current
score for each user in the matchup fantasy matchup, etc.). In some
embodiments, the media application may identify players
participating in the live sporting event that are from a roster
maintained by the user for the fantasy sports event. For example,
the media application may identify players from the user's fantasy
team roster that play on either the San Francisco 49ers or the San
Diego Chargers and that are active on the user's roster.
[0048] In some embodiments, the media application may obtain a set
of rules that define scoring opportunities in the fantasy sports
event for the user as a function of possible actions and players in
the sporting event. For example, the media application may
determine that the user has an active running back on his fantasy
football roster that plays for the San Francisco 49ers, and the
media application may retrieve a rule that indicates that the user
has a scoring opportunity if the user's running back rushes for a
touchdown (e.g., the user may receive 6 points toward the user's
fantasy score for the week if the user's running back rushes for a
touchdown).
[0049] In some embodiments, the media application may obtain data
representing current circumstances of the live sporting event. For
example, the media application may obtain information specifying
the team with current possession of the football, the current line
of scrimmage, the current players on the field of play, the amount
of time remaining in the live sporting event, the score of the
professional teams in the live sporting event, etc.
[0050] In some embodiments, the media application may apply the set
of rules to the data representing the current circumstances of the
live sporting event to identify possible scoring scenarios in the
fantasy sports event and locations on a playing space of the live
sporting event that correspond to the possible scoring scenarios.
For example, if the user's active running back is currently on the
field of play and the line of scrimmage is on the San Francisco
49ers' 6-yard line, then the set of rules may indicate that the
user has a 6-point scoring opportunity. In some embodiments, the
media application may further determine that, based on the score of
the fantasy sports matchup, a 6-point scoring opportunity may give
the user the lead in the current fantasy sports matchup.
[0051] In some embodiments, the media application may generate for
display, with the video of the live sporting event, information
about the possible scoring scenarios (e.g., a list of scoring
opportunities 125). In some embodiments, the media application may
include identification of the locations on the playing space of the
live sporting event that correspond to the possible scoring
scenarios. For example, the media application may present a textual
list of possible scoring opportunities (e.g., rushing touchdown
scores 6 points), including information indicating the scoring
opportunity occurs at the San Francisco 49ers' goal line.
[0052] In some embodiments, the media application may generate for
display, within the live video, an overlay on top of a playing
space of the sporting event, the overlay indicating where the
particular action would need to occur to affect the outcome of the
side-game. For example, the media application may display a
highlight on the user's running back (e.g., a halo around the
running back in red and gold), along with a marker at the end-zone
(e.g., a red and gold line on the goal line), along with textual
annotation of the possible fantasy sports implications.
[0053] In some embodiments, the media application may emphasize a
scoring opportunity from the list of scoring opportunities 125 as
being particularly impactful on the user's fantasy sports matchup.
For example, if the user is down by 4 points in his fantasy
matchup, then a scoring opportunity worth more than 4 points would
swing outcome of the user's matchup from a loss for the user to a
win for the user. FIG. 1 further depicts such a scenario with an
optional emphasis of the 18-yard rushing touchdown scoring
opportunity with a highlighting box 126 and emphasis icon 127
(e.g., an exclamation mark accompanying the identification of the
scoring opportunity). In some embodiments, the media application
may employ one of the emphasizing markers without displaying the
other. Still other types of emphasis may be used by the media
application to denote particular scoring opportunities, e.g.,
underline, specific colors, bolded text, highlighting, other icons,
flashing text, etc.
[0054] In some embodiments, the media application may identify
players from a user's fantasy sports roster that are on the field
of play. For example, methods and systems for visually
distinguishing players in video of a sporting event are described
in greater detail in Jensen et al. U.S. Pat. No. 9,409,081, issued
Aug. 9, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in
its entirety. In video 105, the 49ers' running back 128 ("J.
McKinnon," jersey number 28) is depicted with a halo 129. As noted
above, the media application has identified two scoring
opportunities for the user based on the user having the 49ers'
running back 128 on his fantasy sports roster.
[0055] In some embodiments, the media application may further
identify scoring opportunities based on the identification of
players on the active playing surface of a sporting event. In such
a case, the media application may identify the 10-yard run and
18-yard touchdown run as scoring opportunities based on the 49ers'
running back 128 being on the active field as the running back is
associated with those opportunities, and at the same time the media
application may not identify the 35-yard field goal as a scoring
opportunity because the user's player associated with that
opportunity, the 49ers' placekicker, is not currently on the field
of play.
[0056] In some embodiments, the media application may also present
guidance opportunities to the user. For example, the media
application may present other views of the live sporting event or
other sporting events of interest. This is shown in FIG. 1 where
the media application is showing an alternative view of the 49ers'
football game as a navigation option 140. In FIG. 1, the media
application is also showing other NFL football games as navigation
options 145 and 150. For example, the media application may analyze
the user's fantasy roster to determine which players on the user's
fantasy roster are on teams with an active football game and
present those games as viewing options. In some embodiments, the
media application may determine that certain players on the user's
fantasy roster have scoring opportunities with more significant
impact on the user's fantasy matchup (i.e., higher point potential)
and emphasize the navigation option for the corresponding matchup
with, for example, highlighting or textual emphasis.
[0057] In some embodiments, the media application may automatically
switch the display of the video 105 of the live sporting event to a
second live sporting event (e.g., the game depicted in option 145)
based on the potential impact of the sporting events on the user's
fantasy sports matchup. For example, the media application may
determine the user has a scoring opportunity worth 9 points in a
matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots
(depicted as option 145 in FIG. 1) based on the user's fantasy
roster and the circumstances of the game between the Chiefs and the
Patriots. In response to determining the Chiefs versus Patriots
game is potentially more impactful to the user's fantasy matchup,
the media application may automatically switch video of the Chiefs'
game into a primary position and place video 105 of the 49ers' game
into a secondary position.
[0058] In some embodiments, the media application may identify the
list of scoring opportunities 125 based on more than one sporting
event based on the user's roster of players and the circumstances
of multiple sporting events. The media application may, for
example, allow the user to select different scoring opportunities
from the list of scoring opportunities 125. Upon selection, the
media application may determine the player associated with the
scoring opportunity and also the sporting event associated with the
scoring opportunity. Using that information, the media application
may generate for display video of the identified player or the
identified sporting event if such a video is available for display.
For example, if the user has a scoring opportunity in the Chiefs'
game, depicted as navigation option 145, and the user selects that
scoring opportunity from list 125 (e.g., using a remote control,
touch input, voice control, or other input) then the media
application may place video of the Chiefs' game in place of the
video 105 of the 49ers' game. Therefore, the techniques described
herein provide unique opportunities to allow a user to keep track
of the events in a live sporting event, or multiple live sporting
events, that impact the user's fantasy sports matchups.
[0059] In some embodiments, the media application may further
determine a final player from the roster maintained by the user for
the fantasy sports event. In other words, there are no other
players on the roster that can impact who leads the fantasy sports
event. For example, the media application may determine that the
user's running back is the last active player from the user's
fantasy sports roster and that the user has no other players
available from his active fantasy sports roster that can score
points in the user's fantasy sports matchup. In some embodiments,
the media application tracks when the final player is active on the
playing space of the live sporting event. For example, the media
application may employ facial recognition or optical character
recognition to identity a name or number on a player's jersey. In
another example, the media application may receive a list of
players on the play surface of a sporting event from a data
service. In some embodiments, the media application may emphasize
the final player in the video of the live sporting event as
compared with other participants of the live sporting event. For
example, the media application may include a special icon
indicating the importance of the athlete to the user's fantasy
sports matchup. For example, the media application may determine
that the 49ers' running back 128 is the last active player from the
user's fantasy sports lineup and may emphasize that player in
accordance with the techniques described above.
[0060] In some embodiments, the media application analyzes a first
of the possible scoring scenarios to determine a player
participating in the live sporting event whose performance could
satisfy the first possible scoring scenario. For example, the media
application may determine that a rushing touchdown scoring scenario
can be satisfied by "J. McKinnon," a running back on the San
Francisco 49ers and also on the user's active fantasy roster. The
media application may then retrieve statistics of the determined
player relevant to the first possible scoring scenario. For
example, the media application may determine that J. McKinnon on
average rushes for 2.3 touchdowns per game and has already rushed
for 2 touchdowns and therefore there is a low probability that J.
McKinnon will rush for a third touchdown. In some embodiments, the
media application may utilize additional statistics such as the
yards per carry for the career, yards per carry against the
particular opponent, yards per carry in the game, etc., along with
information about the current situation of the game such as the
current line of scrimmage. In some embodiments, the media
application may generate for display, with the information about
the possible scoring scenarios, information about the statistics of
the determined player.
[0061] In some embodiments, the media application receives a
selection of a possible scoring scenario from a user. For example,
the media application may receive a gesture selection indicating
the user selected rushing touchdown from a list of possible scoring
scenarios 125. In some embodiments, the media application analyzes
the selected possible scoring scenarios to determine a player
participating in the live sporting event whose performance could
satisfy the first possible scoring scenario. For example, if the
selected scoring scenario is a rushing touchdown, then the media
application may determine that J. McKinnon from the San Francisco
49ers can satisfy the selected scenario. The media application may
emphasize, in the video 105 of the live sporting event, the
determined player using, for example, halo 129.
[0062] In some embodiments, the media application receives video of
live sporting events to be displayed on a user device (also known
as user equipment) and processes video of the live sporting events
using an object recognition module to determine characteristics of
the event (e.g., the identities of players on the field of play,
the location of an object of play, etc.). As used herein, an
"object recognition module" is any device or application that may
be associated with, incorporated into, or accessed by the media
application or the user equipment upon which the media application
is implemented and tasked with finding a given object and/or
determining characteristics about the object in an image or
video.
[0063] The object recognition module may use edge detection,
pattern recognition, including, but not limited to, self-learning
systems (e.g., neural networks), optical character recognition,
on-line character recognition (including but not limited to,
dynamic character recognition, real-time character recognition,
intelligent character recognition), and/or any other suitable
technique or method to determine the objects and/or characteristics
in media assets. For example, the media application may receive
sports programming in the form of a video. The video may include a
series of frames. For each frame of the video, the media
application may use an object recognition module to determine the
characteristics associated with each player currently appearing in
the sports programming.
[0064] In addition, the media application may use multiple types of
optical character recognition and/or fuzzy logic, for example, when
comparing multiple data fields (e.g., as contained in data
structures described below). For example, the particular data field
may be a textual data field. Using fuzzy logic, the system may
determine two fields and/or values to be identical even though the
substance of the data field or value (e.g., two different
spellings) is not identical. In some embodiments, the system may
analyze particular data fields of a data structure or media asset
frame for particular values or text. The data fields could be
associated with characteristics, additional information, and/or any
other data required for the function of the embodiments described
herein. Furthermore, the data fields could contain values (e.g.,
the data fields could be expressed in binary or any other suitable
code or programming language).
[0065] As used herein, a "characteristic" of a player refers to any
marking, tag, or other signal used to identify a player, including
the position of the player, to people or media systems. For
example, characteristics of a player may be physical markings that
appear on an actual player as the player participates in a
televised sporting event (e.g., a jersey number, team name, a name
appearing on the uniform, etc.). In some embodiments, the
characteristics may also include tags transmitted with the sports
programming (e.g., from media content source 716 (FIG. 7)) as
metadata, which indicates to the media application particular
traits and/or attributes (including, but not limited to, the name
of a player and/or the position of the player on currently
displayed sports programming). In some embodiments, the
characteristics of players currently appearing in sports
programming may be transmitted in the form of media data. For
example, the characteristics determined by an object recognition
module incorporated into a media application may be transmitted to
a remote server for processing. Additionally or alternatively,
media data describing the characteristics may be transmitted from a
remote server to a media application.
[0066] As used herein, "visually distinguishing" a player may
include any indication in the media asset that alerts a user to the
presence of the player in the sports programming. In some
embodiments, visually distinguishing a player may include
highlighting, boxing, bolding, enlarging, changing the color, or
otherwise graphically altering the player as displayed in the
sports programming. In addition, multimedia indications may also be
used. For example, the media application may use audio tones and/or
audio descriptions (e.g., a verbal announcement) to indicate the
presence of the player in the sports programming. In some
embodiments, the media application may additionally or
alternatively visually distinguish players based on user inputs
(e.g., instructions to visually distinguish or not visually
distinguish the players currently appearing or players that will
appear in the sports programming).
[0067] FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a display of
fantasy sports scoring opportunities on a secondary display 220
while video 205 of a live sporting event is displayed on a primary
display 200 in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.
Continuing with the example described with reference to FIG. 1,
FIG. 2 depicts the video 205 of the live sporting event between the
49ers and the Chargers as being displayed on user equipment 200. In
FIG. 2, the display of the video 205 is generated on user equipment
200 without fantasy sports information. In some embodiments, user
equipment 200 communicates with user equipment 210 (e.g., a set-top
box). In FIG. 2, a secondary display 220 (e.g., augmented reality
or virtual reality goggles) also communicates with user equipment
210. In FIG. 2, the secondary display 220 presents the user with
fantasy sports information such as the fantasy sports information
which corresponds with the fantasy sports information 120 from FIG.
2.
[0068] In some embodiments, the media application may identify a
second set of possible scoring scenarios for a second user
participating in the fantasy sports event. For example, the user
may be watching the live sporting event with the user's opponent in
the fantasy sports matchup, and the media application may use
techniques similar to those described above to identify scoring
opportunities for the user's opponent.
[0069] In some embodiments, the media application may generate for
display, with the video 205 of the live sporting event, information
about the second set of possible scoring scenarios including
identification associating the second set of possible scoring
scenarios with the second user. In some embodiments, the media
application may generate information about the second set of
possible scoring scenarios on a secondary display device 220 used
by the second user. For example, the user's opponent may have
access to a second display such a user tablet, mobile device,
virtual reality goggles, or other personal display device.
[0070] In some embodiments, the media application may generate for
display, with the video 205 of the live sporting event, information
about the possible scoring scenarios using the following
techniques. The media application may establish communication with
a secondary display device 220. For example, the media application
may communicate with a user tablet, mobile device, virtual reality
goggles, or other personal display device. In some embodiments, the
media application may obtain, from the secondary display device
220, a relative position of the secondary display device 220 in
comparison to a primary display device 200 displaying the video 205
of the live sporting event. For example, the media application may
receive an indication that the secondary display device 220 is to
the left of the primary display device 200. In some embodiments,
the media application provides the secondary display device 220
with the information about the possible scoring scenarios for
display on the secondary display device 220. In some embodiments,
the media application uses the relative position of the secondary
display device 220 to determine which information to generate for
display on the secondary display device 220.
[0071] FIG. 3 depicts another illustrative embodiment of a display
of fantasy sports scoring opportunities presented with video of a
live sporting event in accordance with some embodiments of the
disclosure. Continuing with the example from FIG. 1, FIG. 3 depicts
a video 205 of a live sporting event (e.g., an NFL football game
between the 49ers and the Chargers). A media application may map
coordinates in the video 305 of the live sporting event to the
locations on the playing space of the live sporting event that
correspond to the possible scoring scenarios. For example, the
media application may identify the location of the San Francisco
49ers' goal line in the video 305 of the live sporting event (e.g.,
the xy-coordinates of the goal line). In some embodiments, the
media application may determine a graphical overlay 315 for the
mapped locations on the playing space of the live sporting event to
indicate the corresponding possible scoring scenarios. For example,
the media application may generate a red and gold line 315 over the
goal line and a red and gold halo 329 around the user's running
back on the playing surface. In some embodiments, the media
application modifies the video of the live sporting event to
include the graphical overlay. For example, the media application
may overlay the graphical information and textual information 310
over the video of the sporting match. Thus, the media application
may track active players from the user's fantasy sports roster in
the video 305 and annotate the video 305 with information about
scoring opportunities in the user's fantasy sports matchup that
could be satisfied by actions of the identified players. In FIG. 3,
for example, fantasy information overlay 310 indicates two scoring
opportunities associated with the running back, a 10-yard run for 1
point and a 18-yard touchdown run for 7 points.
[0072] In some embodiments, the media application may track a
playing object in the video 305 of the live sporting event. For
example, an image recognition system in the media application may
use the size, shape, or color of different playing objects such as
a football or other object. The media application may determine
that the current circumstances of the live sporting event are
changed based on a current location of the playing object in
comparison to a previous location of the playing object. For
example, if the line of scrimmage was originally determined to be
at the San Francisco 49ers' 45-yard line and the ball is tracked
from the 45-yard line to the 30-yard line, then the media
application may determine the circumstances of the live sporting
event have changed. In some embodiments, the media application may
apply the set of rules to data representing the changed
circumstance of the live sporting event to identify updated scoring
scenarios in the fantasy sports event and generate for display,
with the video of the live sporting event, information about the
updated scoring scenarios.
[0073] Media applications may take various forms depending on the
content for which they provide guidance. One typical type of media
application is an interactive television program guide. Interactive
television program guides (sometimes referred to as electronic
program guides) are well-known guidance applications that, among
other things, allow users to navigate among and locate many types
of content or media assets. Interactive media applications may
generate graphical user interface screens that enable a user to
navigate among, locate and select content. As referred to herein,
the terms "media asset" and "content" should be understood to mean
an electronically consumable user asset, such as television
programming, as well as pay-per-view programs, on-demand programs
(as in video-on-demand (VOD) systems), Internet content (e.g.,
streaming content, downloadable content, Webcasts, etc.), video
clips, audio, content information, pictures, rotating images,
documents, playlists, websites, articles, books, electronic books,
blogs, chat sessions, social media, applications, games, and/or any
other media or multimedia and/or combination of the same. Guidance
applications also allow users to navigate among and locate content.
As referred to herein, the term "multimedia" should be understood
to mean content that utilizes at least two different content forms
described above, for example, text, audio, images, video, or
interactivity content forms. Content may be recorded, played,
displayed or accessed by user equipment devices, but can also be
part of a live performance.
[0074] The media application and/or any instructions for performing
any of the embodiments discussed herein may be encoded on computer
readable media. Computer readable media includes any media capable
of storing data. The computer readable media may be transitory,
including, but not limited to, propagating electrical or
electromagnetic signals, or may be non-transitory including, but
not limited to, volatile and non-volatile computer memory or
storage devices such as a hard disk, floppy disk, USB drive, DVD,
CD, media cards, register memory, processor caches, Random Access
Memory ("RAM"), etc.
[0075] With the advent of the Internet, mobile computing, and
high-speed wireless networks, users are accessing media on user
equipment devices on which they traditionally did not. As referred
to herein, the phrase "user equipment device," "user equipment,"
"user device," "electronic device," "electronic equipment," "media
equipment device," or "media device" should be understood to mean
any device for accessing the content described above, such as a
television, a Smart TV, a set-top box, an integrated receiver
decoder (IRD) for handling satellite television, a digital storage
device, a digital media receiver (DMR), a digital media adapter
(DMA), a streaming media device, a DVD player, a DVD recorder, a
connected DVD, a local media server, a BLU-RAY player, a BLU-RAY
recorder, a personal computer (PC), a laptop computer, a tablet
computer, a WebTV box, a personal computer television (PC/TV), a PC
media server, a PC media center, a hand-held computer, a stationary
telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile telephone,
a portable video player, a portable music player, a portable gaming
machine, a smart phone, or any other television equipment,
computing equipment, or wireless device, and/or combination of the
same. In some embodiments, the user equipment device may have a
front facing screen and a rear facing screen, multiple front
screens, or multiple angled screens. In some embodiments, the user
equipment device may have a front facing camera and/or a rear
facing camera. On these user equipment devices, users may be able
to navigate among and locate the same content available through a
television. Consequently, media guidance and media applications may
be available on these devices, as well. The guidance provided may
be for content available only through a television, for content
available only through one or more of other types of user equipment
devices, or for content available both through a television and one
or more of the other types of user equipment devices. The media
applications may be provided as on-line applications (i.e.,
provided on a web-site), or as stand-alone applications or clients
on user equipment devices. Various devices and platforms that may
implement media applications are described in more detail
below.
[0076] One of the functions of the media application is to provide
media guidance data to users. As referred to herein, the phrase
"media guidance data" or "guidance data" should be understood to
mean any data related to content or data used in operating the
guidance application. For example, the guidance data may include
program information, guidance application settings, user
preferences, user profile information, media listings,
media-related information (e.g., broadcast times, broadcast
channels, titles, descriptions, ratings information (e.g., parental
control ratings, critic's ratings, etc.), genre or category
information, actor information, logo data for broadcasters' or
providers' logos, etc.), media format (e.g., standard definition,
high definition, 3D, etc.), on-demand information, blogs, websites,
and any other type of guidance data that is helpful for a user to
navigate among and locate desired content selections.
[0077] FIGS. 4-5 show illustrative display screens that may be used
to provide media guidance data. The display screens shown in FIGS.
4-5 may be implemented on any suitable user equipment device or
platform. While the displays of FIGS. 4-5 are illustrated as full
screen displays, they may also be fully or partially overlaid over
content being displayed. A user may indicate a desire to access
content information by selecting a selectable option provided in a
display screen (e.g., a menu option, a listings option, an icon, a
hyperlink, etc.) or pressing a dedicated button (e.g., a GUIDE
button) on a remote control or other user input interface or
device. In response to the user's indication, the media application
may provide a display screen with media guidance data organized in
one of several ways, such as by time and channel in a grid, by
time, by channel, by source, by content type, by category (e.g.,
movies, sports, news, children, or other categories of
programming), or other predefined, user-defined, or other
organization criteria.
[0078] FIG. 4 shows illustrative grid of a program listings display
400 arranged by time and channel that also enables access to
different types of content in a single display. Display 400 may
include grid 402 with: (1) a column of channel/content type
identifiers 404, where each channel/content type identifier (which
is a cell in the column) identifies a different channel or content
type available; and (2) a row of time identifiers 406, where each
time identifier (which is a cell in the row) identifies a time
block of programming. Grid 402 also includes cells of program
listings, such as program listing 408, where each listing provides
the title of the program provided on the listing's associated
channel and time. With a user input device, a user can select
program listings by moving highlight region 410. Information
relating to the program listing selected by highlight region 410
may be provided in program information region 412. Region 412 may
include, for example, the program title, the program description,
the time the program is provided (if applicable), the channel the
program is on (if applicable), the program's rating, and other
desired information.
[0079] In addition to providing access to linear programming (e.g.,
content that is scheduled to be transmitted to a plurality of user
equipment devices at a predetermined time and is provided according
to a schedule), the media application also provides access to
non-linear programming (e.g., content accessible to a user
equipment device at any time and is not provided according to a
schedule). Non-linear programming may include content from
different content sources including on-demand content (e.g., VOD),
Internet content (e.g., streaming media, downloadable media, etc.),
locally stored content (e.g., content stored on any user equipment
device described above or other storage device), or other
time-independent content. On-demand content may include movies or
any other content provided by a particular content provider (e.g.,
HBO On Demand providing "The Sopranos" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm").
HBO ON DEMAND is a service mark owned by Time Warner Company L.P.
et al. and THE SOPRANOS and CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM are trademarks
owned by the Home Box Office, Inc. Internet content may include web
events, such as a chat session or Webcast, or content available
on-demand as streaming content or downloadable content through an
Internet web site or other Internet access (e.g., FTP).
[0080] Grid 402 may provide media guidance data for non-linear
programming including on-demand listing 414, recorded content
listing 416, and Internet content listing 418. A display combining
media guidance data for content from different types of content
sources is sometimes referred to as a "mixed-media" display.
Various permutations of the types of media guidance data that may
be displayed that are different than display 400 may be based on
user selection or guidance application definition (e.g., a display
of only recorded and broadcast listings, only on-demand and
broadcast listings, etc.). As illustrated, listings 414, 416, and
418 are shown as spanning the entire time block displayed in grid
402 to indicate that selection of these listings may provide access
to a display dedicated to on-demand listings, recorded listings, or
Internet listings, respectively. In some embodiments, listings for
these content types may be included directly in grid 402.
Additional media guidance data may be displayed in response to the
user selecting one of the navigational icons 420. (Pressing an
arrow key on a user input device may affect the display in a
similar manner as selecting navigational icons 420.)
[0081] Display 400 may also include video region 422, and options
region 426. Video region 422 may allow the user to view and/or
preview programs that are currently available, will be available,
or were available to the user. The content of video region 422 may
correspond to, or be independent from, one of the listings
displayed in grid 402. Grid displays including a video region are
sometimes referred to as picture-in-guide (PIG) displays. PIG
displays and their functionalities are described in greater detail
in Satterfield et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,378, issued May 13, 2003
and Yuen et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,794, issued May 29, 2001, which
are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
PIG displays may be included in other media application display
screens of the embodiments described herein.
[0082] Options region 426 may allow the user to access different
types of content, media application displays, and/or media
application features. Options region 426 may be part of display 400
(and other display screens described herein), or may be invoked by
a user by selecting an on-screen option or pressing a dedicated or
assignable button on a user input device. The selectable options
within options region 426 may concern features related to program
listings in grid 402 or may include options available from a main
menu display. Features related to program listings may include
searching for other air times or ways of receiving a program,
recording a program, enabling series recording of a program,
setting program and/or channel as a favorite, purchasing a program,
or other features. Options available from a main menu display may
include search options, VOD options, parental control options,
Internet options, cloud-based options, device synchronization
options, second screen device options, options to access various
types of media guidance data displays, options to subscribe to a
premium service, options to edit a user's profile, options to
access a browse overlay, or other options.
[0083] The media application may be personalized based on a user's
preferences. A personalized media application allows a user to
customize displays and features to create a personalized
"experience" with the media application. This personalized
experience may be created by allowing a user to input these
customizations and/or by the media application monitoring user
activity to determine various user preferences. Users may access
their personalized guidance application by logging in or otherwise
identifying themselves to the guidance application. Customization
of the media application may be made in accordance with a user
profile. The customizations may include varying presentation
schemes (e.g., color scheme of displays, font size of text, etc.),
aspects of content listings displayed (e.g., only HDTV or only 3D
programming, user-specified broadcast channels based on favorite
channel selections, re-ordering the display of channels,
recommended content, etc.), desired recording features (e.g.,
recording or series recordings for particular users, recording
quality, etc.), parental control settings, customized presentation
of Internet content (e.g., presentation of social media content,
e-mail, electronically delivered articles, etc.) and other desired
customizations.
[0084] The media application may allow a user to provide user
profile information or may automatically compile user profile
information. The media application may, for example, monitor the
content the user accesses and/or other interactions the user may
have with the guidance application. Additionally, the media
application may obtain all or part of other user profiles that are
related to a particular user (e.g., from other web sites on the
Internet the user accesses, such as www.Tivo.com, from other media
applications the user accesses, from other interactive applications
the user accesses, from another user equipment device of the user,
etc.), and/or obtain information about the user from other sources
that the media application may access. As a result, a user can be
provided with a unified guidance application experience across the
user's different user equipment devices. This type of user
experience is described in greater detail below in connection with
FIG. 7. Additional personalized media application features are
described in greater detail in Ellis et al., U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2005/0251827, filed Jul. 11, 2005,
Boyer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,165,098, issued Jan. 16, 2007, and
Ellis et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0174430,
filed Feb. 21, 2002, which are hereby incorporated by reference
herein in their entireties.
[0085] Another display arrangement for providing media guidance is
shown in FIG. 5. Video mosaic display 500 includes selectable
options 502 for content information organized based on content
type, genre, and/or other organization criteria. In display 500,
television listings option 504 is selected, thus providing listings
506, 508, 510, and 512 as broadcast program listings. In display
500 the listings may provide graphical images including cover art,
still images from the content, video clip previews, live video from
the content, or other types of content that indicate to a user the
content being described by the media guidance data in the listing.
Each of the graphical listings may also be accompanied by text to
provide further information about the content associated with the
listing. For example, listing 508 may include more than one
portion, including media portion 514 and text portion 516. Media
portion 514 and/or text portion 516 may be selectable to view
content in full-screen or to view information related to the
content displayed in media portion 514 (e.g., to view listings for
the channel that the video is displayed on).
[0086] The listings in display 500 are of different sizes (i.e.,
listing 506 is larger than listings 508, 510, and 512), but if
desired, all the listings may be the same size. Listings may be of
different sizes or graphically accentuated to indicate degrees of
interest to the user or to emphasize certain content, as desired by
the content provider or based on user preferences. Various systems
and methods for graphically accentuating content listings are
discussed in, for example, Yates, U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2010/0153885, filed Nov. 12, 2009, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0087] Users may access content and the media application (and its
display screens described above and below) from one or more of
their user equipment devices. FIG. 6 shows a generalized embodiment
of illustrative user equipment device 600. More specific
implementations of user equipment devices are discussed below in
connection with FIG. 7. User equipment device 600 may receive
content and data via input/output (hereinafter "I/O") path 602. I/O
path 602 may provide content (e.g., broadcast programming,
on-demand programming, Internet content, content available over a
local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN), and/or other
content) and data to control circuitry 604, which includes
processing circuitry 606 and storage 608. Control circuitry 604 may
be used to send and receive commands, requests, and other suitable
data using I/O path 602. I/O path 602 may connect control circuitry
604 (and specifically processing circuitry 606) to one or more
communications paths (described below). I/O functions may be
provided by one or more of these communications paths, but are
shown as a single path in FIG. 6 to avoid overcomplicating the
drawing.
[0088] Control circuitry 604 may be based on any suitable
processing circuitry such as processing circuitry 606. As referred
to herein, processing circuitry should be understood to mean
circuitry based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers,
digital signal processors, programmable logic devices,
field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific
integrated circuits (ASICs), etc., and may include a multi-core
processor (e.g., dual-core, quad-core, hexa-core, or any suitable
number of cores) or supercomputer. In some embodiments, processing
circuitry may be distributed across multiple separate processors or
processing units, for example, multiple of the same type of
processing units (e.g., two Intel Core i7 processors) or multiple
different processors (e.g., an Intel Core i5 processor and an Intel
Core i7 processor). In some embodiments, control circuitry 604
executes instructions for a media application stored in memory
(i.e., storage 608). Specifically, control circuitry 604 may be
instructed by the media application to perform the functions
discussed above and below. For example, the media application may
provide instructions to control circuitry 604 to generate the media
guidance displays. In some implementations, any action performed by
control circuitry 604 may be based on instructions received from
the media application.
[0089] In client-server based embodiments, control circuitry 604
may include communications circuitry suitable for communicating
with a guidance application server or other networks or servers.
The instructions for carrying out the above mentioned functionality
may be stored on the guidance application server. Communications
circuitry may include a cable modem, an integrated services digital
network (ISDN) modem, a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, a
telephone modem, Ethernet card, or a wireless modem for
communications with other equipment, or any other suitable
communications circuitry. Such communications may involve the
Internet or any other suitable communications networks or paths
(which is described in more detail in connection with FIG. 7). In
addition, communications circuitry may include circuitry that
enables peer-to-peer communication of user equipment devices, or
communication of user equipment devices in locations remote from
each other (described in more detail below).
[0090] Memory may be an electronic storage device provided as
storage 608 that is part of control circuitry 604. As referred to
herein, the phrase "electronic storage device" or "storage device"
should be understood to mean any device for storing electronic
data, computer software, or firmware, such as random-access memory,
read-only memory, hard drives, optical drives, digital video disc
(DVD) recorders, compact disc (CD) recorders, BLU-RAY disc (BD)
recorders, BLU-RAY 3D disc recorders, digital video recorders (DVR,
sometimes called a personal video recorder, or PVR), solid state
devices, quantum storage devices, gaming consoles, gaming media, or
any other suitable fixed or removable storage devices, and/or any
combination of the same. Storage 608 may be used to store various
types of content described herein as well as media guidance data
described above. Nonvolatile memory may also be used (e.g., to
launch a boot-up routine and other instructions). Cloud-based
storage, described in relation to FIG. 7, may be used to supplement
storage 608 or instead of storage 608.
[0091] Control circuitry 604 may include video generating circuitry
and tuning circuitry, such as one or more analog tuners, one or
more MPEG-2 decoders or other digital decoding circuitry,
high-definition tuners, or any other suitable tuning or video
circuits or combinations of such circuits. Encoding circuitry
(e.g., for converting over-the-air, analog, or digital signals to
MPEG signals for storage) may also be provided. Control circuitry
604 may also include scaler circuitry for upconverting and
downconverting content into the preferred output format of the user
equipment 600. Circuitry 604 may also include digital-to-analog
converter circuitry and analog-to-digital converter circuitry for
converting between digital and analog signals. The tuning and
encoding circuitry may be used by the user equipment device to
receive and to display, to play, or to record content. The tuning
and encoding circuitry may also be used to receive guidance data.
The circuitry described herein, including for example, the tuning,
video generating, encoding, decoding, encrypting, decrypting,
scaler, and analog/digital circuitry, may be implemented using
software running on one or more general purpose or specialized
processors. Multiple tuners may be provided to handle simultaneous
tuning functions (e.g., watch and record functions,
picture-in-picture (PIP) functions, multiple-tuner recording,
etc.). If storage 608 is provided as a separate device from user
equipment 600, the tuning and encoding circuitry (including
multiple tuners) may be associated with storage 608.
[0092] A user may send instructions to control circuitry 604 using
user input interface 610. User input interface 610 may be any
suitable user interface, such as a remote control, mouse,
trackball, keypad, keyboard, touch screen, touchpad, stylus input,
joystick, voice recognition interface, or other user input
interfaces. Display 612 may be provided as a stand-alone device or
integrated with other elements of user equipment device 600. For
example, display 612 may be a touchscreen or touch-sensitive
display. In such circumstances, user input interface 610 may be
integrated with or combined with display 612. Display 612 may be
one or more of a monitor, a television, a liquid crystal display
(LCD) for a mobile device, amorphous silicon display, low
temperature poly silicon display, electronic ink display,
electrophoretic display, active matrix display, electro-wetting
display, electrofluidic display, cathode ray tube display,
light-emitting diode display, electroluminescent display, plasma
display panel, high-performance addressing display, thin-film
transistor display, organic light-emitting diode display,
surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED), laser
television, carbon nanotubes, quantum dot display, interferometric
modulator display, or any other suitable equipment for displaying
visual images. In some embodiments, display 612 may be
HDTV-capable. In some embodiments, display 612 may be a 3D display,
and the interactive media application and any suitable content may
be displayed in 3D. A video card or graphics card may generate the
output to the display 612. The video card may offer various
functions such as accelerated rendering of 3D scenes and 2D
graphics, MPEG-2/MPEG-4 decoding, TV output, or the ability to
connect multiple monitors. The video card may be any processing
circuitry described above in relation to control circuitry 604. The
video card may be integrated with the control circuitry 604.
Speakers 614 may be provided as integrated with other elements of
user equipment device 600 or may be stand-alone units. The audio
component of videos and other content displayed on display 612 may
be played through speakers 614. In some embodiments, the audio may
be distributed to a receiver (not shown), which processes and
outputs the audio via speakers 614.
[0093] The guidance application may be implemented using any
suitable architecture. For example, it may be a stand-alone
application wholly-implemented on user equipment device 600. In
such an approach, instructions of the application are stored
locally (e.g., in storage 608), and data for use by the application
is downloaded on a periodic basis (e.g., from an out-of-band feed,
from an Internet resource, or using another suitable approach).
Control circuitry 604 may retrieve instructions of the application
from storage 608 and process the instructions to generate any of
the displays discussed herein. Based on the processed instructions,
control circuitry 604 may determine what action to perform when
input is received from input interface 610. For example, movement
of a cursor on a display up/down may be indicated by the processed
instructions when input interface 610 indicates that an up/down
button was selected.
[0094] In some embodiments, the media application is a
client-server based application. Data for use by a thick or thin
client implemented on user equipment device 600 is retrieved
on-demand by issuing requests to a server remote to the user
equipment device 600. In one example of a client-server based
guidance application, control circuitry 604 runs a web browser that
interprets web pages provided by a remote server. For example, the
remote server may store the instructions for the application in a
storage device. The remote server may process the stored
instructions using circuitry (e.g., control circuitry 604) and
generate the displays discussed above and below. The client device
may receive the displays generated by the remote server and may
display the content of the displays locally on equipment device
600. This way, the processing of the instructions is performed
remotely by the server while the resulting displays are provided
locally on equipment device 600. Equipment device 600 may receive
inputs from the user via input interface 610 and transmit those
inputs to the remote server for processing and generating the
corresponding displays. For example, equipment device 600 may
transmit a communication to the remote server indicating that an
up/down button was selected via input interface 610. The remote
server may process instructions in accordance with that input and
generate a display of the application corresponding to the input
(e.g., a display that moves a cursor up/down). The generated
display is then transmitted to equipment device 600 for
presentation to the user.
[0095] In some embodiments, the media application is downloaded and
interpreted or otherwise run by an interpreter or virtual machine
(run by control circuitry 604). In some embodiments, the guidance
application may be encoded in the ETV Binary Interchange Format
(EBIF), received by control circuitry 604 as part of a suitable
feed, and interpreted by a user agent running on control circuitry
604. For example, the guidance application may be an EBIF
application. In some embodiments, the guidance application may be
defined by a series of JAVA-based files that are received and run
by a local virtual machine or other suitable middleware executed by
control circuitry 604. In some of such embodiments (e.g., those
employing MPEG-2 or other digital media encoding schemes), the
guidance application may be, for example, encoded and transmitted
in an MPEG-2 object carousel with the MPEG audio and video packets
of a program.
[0096] User equipment device 600 of FIG. 6 can be implemented in
system 700 of FIG. 7 as user television equipment 702, user
computer equipment 704, wireless user communications device 706, or
any other type of user equipment suitable for accessing content,
such as a non-portable gaming machine. For simplicity, these
devices may be referred to herein collectively as user equipment or
user equipment devices, and may be substantially similar to user
equipment devices described above. User equipment devices, on which
a media application may be implemented, may function as a
standalone device or may be part of a network of devices. Various
network configurations of devices may be implemented and are
discussed in more detail below.
[0097] A user equipment device utilizing at least some of the
system features described above in connection with FIG. 6 may not
be classified solely as user television equipment 702, user
computer equipment 704, or a wireless user communications device
706. For example, user television equipment 702 may, like some user
computer equipment 704, be Internet-enabled allowing for access to
Internet content, while user computer equipment 704 may, like some
television equipment 702, include a tuner allowing for access to
television programming. The media application may have the same
layout on various different types of user equipment or may be
tailored to the display capabilities of the user equipment. For
example, on user computer equipment 704, the guidance application
may be provided as a web site accessed by a web browser. In another
example, the guidance application may be scaled down for wireless
user communications devices 706.
[0098] In system 700, there is typically more than one of each type
of user equipment device but only one of each is shown in FIG. 7 to
avoid overcomplicating the drawing. In addition, each user may
utilize more than one type of user equipment device and also more
than one of each type of user equipment device.
[0099] In some embodiments, a user equipment device (e.g., user
television equipment 702, user computer equipment 704, wireless
user communications device 706) may be referred to as a "second
screen device." For example, a second screen device may supplement
content presented on a first user equipment device. The content
presented on the second screen device may be any suitable content
that supplements the content presented on the first device. In some
embodiments, the second screen device provides an interface for
adjusting settings and display preferences of the first device. In
some embodiments, the second screen device is configured for
interacting with other second screen devices or for interacting
with a social network. The second screen device can be located in
the same room as the first device, a different room from the first
device but in the same house or building, or in a different
building from the first device.
[0100] The user may also set various settings to maintain
consistent media application settings across in-home devices and
remote devices. Settings include those described herein, as well as
channel and program favorites, programming preferences that the
guidance application utilizes to make programming recommendations,
display preferences, and other desirable guidance settings. For
example, if a user sets a channel as a favorite on, for example,
the web site www.Tivo.com on their personal computer at their
office, the same channel would appear as a favorite on the user's
in-home devices (e.g., user television equipment and user computer
equipment) as well as the user's mobile devices, if desired.
Therefore, changes made on one user equipment device can change the
guidance experience on another user equipment device, regardless of
whether they are the same or a different type of user equipment
device. In addition, the changes made may be based on settings
input by a user, as well as user activity monitored by the guidance
application.
[0101] The user equipment devices may be coupled to communications
network 714. Namely, user television equipment 702, user computer
equipment 704, and wireless user communications device 706 are
coupled to communications network 714 via communications paths 708,
710, and 712, respectively. Communications network 714 may be one
or more networks including the Internet, a mobile phone network,
mobile voice or data network (e.g., a 4G or LTE network), cable
network, public switched telephone network, or other types of
communications network or combinations of communications networks.
Paths 708, 710, and 712 may separately or together include one or
more communications paths, such as, a satellite path, a fiber-optic
path, a cable path, a path that supports Internet communications
(e.g., IPTV), free-space connections (e.g., for broadcast or other
wireless signals), or any other suitable wired or wireless
communications path or combination of such paths. Path 712 is drawn
with dotted lines to indicate that in the exemplary embodiment
shown in FIG. 7 it is a wireless path and paths 708 and 710 are
drawn as solid lines to indicate they are wired paths (although
these paths may be wireless paths, if desired). Communications with
the user equipment devices may be provided by one or more of these
communications paths, but are shown as a single path in FIG. 7 to
avoid overcomplicating the drawing.
[0102] Although communications paths are not drawn between user
equipment devices, these devices may communicate directly with each
other via communication paths, such as those described above in
connection with paths 708, 710, and 712, as well as other
short-range point-to-point communication paths, such as USB cables,
IEEE 1394 cables, wireless paths (e.g., Bluetooth, infrared, IEEE
802-11x, etc.), or other short-range communication via wired or
wireless paths. BLUETOOTH is a certification mark owned by
Bluetooth SIG, INC. The user equipment devices may also communicate
with each other directly through an indirect path via
communications network 714.
[0103] System 700 includes content source 716 and media guidance
data source 718 coupled to communications network 714 via
communication paths 720 and 722, respectively. Paths 720 and 722
may include any of the communication paths described above in
connection with paths 708, 710, and 712. Communications with the
content source 716 and media guidance data source 718 may be
exchanged over one or more communications paths, but are shown as a
single path in FIG. 7 to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. In
addition, there may be more than one of each of content source 716
and media guidance data source 718, but only one of each is shown
in FIG. 7 to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. (The different
types of each of these sources are discussed below.) If desired,
content source 716 and media guidance data source 718 may be
integrated as one source device. Although communications between
sources 716 and 718 with user equipment devices 702, 704, and 706
are shown as through communications network 714, in some
embodiments, sources 716 and 718 may communicate directly with user
equipment devices 702, 704, and 706 via communication paths (not
shown) such as those described above in connection with paths 708,
710, and 712.
[0104] Content source 716 may include one or more types of content
distribution equipment including a television distribution
facility, cable system headend, satellite distribution facility,
programming sources (e.g., television broadcasters, such as NBC,
ABC, HBO, etc.), intermediate distribution facilities and/or
servers, Internet providers, on-demand media servers, and other
content providers. NBC is a trademark owned by the National
Broadcasting Company, Inc., ABC is a trademark owned by the
American Broadcasting Company, Inc., and HBO is a trademark owned
by the Home Box Office, Inc. Content source 716 may be the
originator of content (e.g., a television broadcaster, a Webcast
provider, etc.) or may not be the originator of content (e.g., an
on-demand content provider, an Internet provider of content of
broadcast programs for downloading, etc.). Content source 716 may
include cable sources, satellite providers, on-demand providers,
Internet providers, over-the-top content providers, or other
providers of content. Content source 716 may also include a remote
media server used to store different types of content (including
video content selected by a user), in a location remote from any of
the user equipment devices. Systems and methods for remote storage
of content, and providing remotely stored content to user equipment
are discussed in greater detail in connection with Ellis et al.,
U.S. Pat. No. 7,761,892, issued Jul. 20, 2010, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0105] Media guidance data source 718 may provide media guidance
data, such as the media guidance data described above. Media
guidance data may be provided to the user equipment devices using
any suitable approach. In some embodiments, the guidance
application may be a stand-alone interactive television program
guide that receives program guide data via a data feed (e.g., a
continuous feed or trickle feed). Program schedule data and other
guidance data may be provided to the user equipment on a television
channel sideband, using an in-band digital signal, using an
out-of-band digital signal, or by any other suitable data
transmission technique. Program schedule data and other media
guidance data may be provided to user equipment on multiple analog
or digital television channels.
[0106] In some embodiments, guidance data from media guidance data
source 718 may be provided to users' equipment using a
client-server approach. For example, a user equipment device may
pull media guidance data from a server, or a server may push media
guidance data to a user equipment device. In some embodiments, a
guidance application client residing on the user's equipment may
initiate sessions with source 718 to obtain guidance data when
needed, e.g., when the guidance data is out of date or when the
user equipment device receives a request from the user to receive
data. Media guidance may be provided to the user equipment with any
suitable frequency (e.g., continuously, daily, a user-specified
period of time, a system-specified period of time, in response to a
request from user equipment, etc.). Media guidance data source 718
may provide user equipment devices 702, 704, and 706 the media
application itself or software updates for the media
application.
[0107] In some embodiments, the media guidance data may include
viewer data. For example, the viewer data may include current
and/or historical user activity information (e.g., what content the
user typically watches, what times of day the user watches content,
whether the user interacts with a social network, at what times the
user interacts with a social network to post information, what
types of content the user typically watches (e.g., pay TV or free
TV), mood, brain activity information, etc.). The media guidance
data may also include subscription data. For example, the
subscription data may identify to which sources or services a given
user subscribes and/or to which sources or services the given user
has previously subscribed but later terminated access (e.g.,
whether the user subscribes to premium channels, whether the user
has added a premium level of services, whether the user has
increased Internet speed). In some embodiments, the viewer data
and/or the subscription data may identify patterns of a given user
for a period of more than one year. The media guidance data may
include a model (e.g., a survivor model) used for generating a
score that indicates a likelihood a given user will terminate
access to a service/source. For example, the media application may
process the viewer data with the subscription data using the model
to generate a value or score that indicates a likelihood of whether
the given user will terminate access to a particular service or
source. In particular, a higher score may indicate a higher level
of confidence that the user will terminate access to a particular
service or source. Based on the score, the media application may
generate promotions that entice the user to keep the particular
service or source indicated by the score as one to which the user
will likely terminate access.
[0108] Media applications may be, for example, stand-alone
applications implemented on user equipment devices. For example,
the media application may be implemented as software or a set of
executable instructions which may be stored in storage 608, and
executed by control circuitry 604 of a user equipment device 600.
In some embodiments, media applications may be client-server
applications where only a client application resides on the user
equipment device, and server application resides on a remote
server. For example, media applications may be implemented
partially as a client application on control circuitry 604 of user
equipment device 600 and partially on a remote server as a server
application (e.g., media guidance data source 718) running on
control circuitry of the remote server. When executed by control
circuitry of the remote server (such as media guidance data source
718), the media application may instruct the control circuitry to
generate the guidance application displays and transmit the
generated displays to the user equipment devices. The server
application may instruct the control circuitry of the media
guidance data source 718 to transmit data for storage on the user
equipment. The client application may instruct control circuitry of
the receiving user equipment to generate the guidance application
displays.
[0109] Content and/or media guidance data delivered to user
equipment devices 702, 704, and 706 may be over-the-top (OTT)
content. OTT content delivery allows Internet-enabled user devices,
including any user equipment device described above, to receive
content that is transferred over the Internet, including any
content described above, in addition to content received over cable
or satellite connections. OTT content is delivered via an Internet
connection provided by an Internet service provider (ISP), but a
third party distributes the content. The ISP may not be responsible
for the viewing abilities, copyrights, or redistribution of the
content, and may only transfer IP packets provided by the OTT
content provider. Examples of OTT content providers include
YOUTUBE, NETFLIX, and HULU, which provide audio and video via IP
packets. YouTube is a trademark owned by Google Inc., Netflix is a
trademark owned by Netflix Inc., and Hulu is a trademark owned by
Hulu, LLC. OTT content providers may additionally or alternatively
provide media guidance data described above. In addition to content
and/or media guidance data, providers of OTT content can distribute
media applications (e.g., web-based applications or cloud-based
applications), or the content can be displayed by media
applications stored on the user equipment device.
[0110] Media guidance system 700 is intended to illustrate a number
of approaches, or network configurations, by which user equipment
devices and sources of content and guidance data may communicate
with each other for the purpose of accessing content and providing
media guidance. The embodiments described herein may be applied in
any one or a subset of these approaches, or in a system employing
other approaches for delivering content and providing media
guidance. The following four approaches provide specific
illustrations of the generalized example of FIG. 7.
[0111] In one approach, user equipment devices may communicate with
each other within a home network. User equipment devices can
communicate with each other directly via short-range point-to-point
communication schemes described above, via indirect paths through a
hub or other similar device provided on a home network, or via
communications network 714. Each of the multiple individuals in a
single home may operate different user equipment devices on the
home network. As a result, it may be desirable for various media
guidance information or settings to be communicated between the
different user equipment devices. For example, it may be desirable
for users to maintain consistent media application settings on
different user equipment devices within a home network, as
described in greater detail in Ellis et al., U.S. Patent
Publication No. 2005/0251827, filed Jul. 11, 2005. Different types
of user equipment devices in a home network may also communicate
with each other to transmit content. For example, a user may
transmit content from user computer equipment to a portable video
player or portable music player.
[0112] In a second approach, users may have multiple types of user
equipment by which they access content and obtain media guidance.
For example, some users may have home networks that are accessed by
in-home and mobile devices. Users may control in-home devices via a
media application implemented on a remote device. For example,
users may access an online media application on a website via a
personal computer at their office, or a mobile device such as a PDA
or web-enabled mobile telephone. The user may set various settings
(e.g., recordings, reminders, or other settings) on the online
guidance application to control the user's in-home equipment. The
online guide may control the user's equipment directly, or by
communicating with a media application on the user's in-home
equipment. Various systems and methods for user equipment devices
communicating, where the user equipment devices are in locations
remote from each other, is discussed in, for example, Ellis et al.,
U.S. Pat. No. 8,046,801, issued Oct. 25, 2011, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0113] In a third approach, users of user equipment devices inside
and outside a home can use their media application to communicate
directly with content source 716 to access content. Specifically,
within a home, users of user television equipment 702 and user
computer equipment 704 may access the media application to navigate
among and locate desirable content. Users may also access the media
application outside of the home using wireless user communications
devices 706 to navigate among and locate desirable content.
[0114] In a fourth approach, user equipment devices may operate in
a cloud computing environment to access cloud services. In a cloud
computing environment, various types of computing services for
content sharing, storage or distribution (e.g., video sharing sites
or social networking sites) are provided by a collection of
network-accessible computing and storage resources, referred to as
"the cloud." For example, the cloud can include a collection of
server computing devices, which may be located centrally or at
distributed locations, that provide cloud-based services to various
types of users and devices connected via a network such as the
Internet via communications network 714. These cloud resources may
include one or more content sources 716 and one or more media
guidance data sources 718. In addition or in the alternative, the
remote computing sites may include other user equipment devices,
such as user television equipment 702, user computer equipment 704,
and wireless user communications device 706. For example, the other
user equipment devices may provide access to a stored copy of a
video or a streamed video. In such embodiments, user equipment
devices may operate in a peer-to-peer manner without communicating
with a central server.
[0115] The cloud provides access to services, such as content
storage, content sharing, or social networking services, among
other examples, as well as access to any content described above,
for user equipment devices. Services can be provided in the cloud
through cloud computing service providers, or through other
providers of online services. For example, the cloud-based services
can include a content storage service, a content sharing site, a
social networking site, or other services via which user-sourced
content is distributed for viewing by others on connected devices.
These cloud-based services may allow a user equipment device to
store content to the cloud and to receive content from the cloud
rather than storing content locally and accessing locally-stored
content.
[0116] A user may use various content capture devices, such as
camcorders, digital cameras with video mode, audio recorders,
mobile phones, and handheld computing devices, to record content.
The user can upload content to a content storage service on the
cloud either directly, for example, from user computer equipment
704 or wireless user communications device 706 having content
capture feature. Alternatively, the user can first transfer the
content to a user equipment device, such as user computer equipment
704. The user equipment device storing the content uploads the
content to the cloud using a data transmission service on
communications network 714. In some embodiments, the user equipment
device itself is a cloud resource, and other user equipment devices
can access the content directly from the user equipment device on
which the user stored the content.
[0117] Cloud resources may be accessed by a user equipment device
using, for example, a web browser, a media application, a desktop
application, a mobile application, and/or any combination of access
applications of the same. The user equipment device may be a cloud
client that relies on cloud computing for application delivery, or
the user equipment device may have some functionality without
access to cloud resources. For example, some applications running
on the user equipment device may be cloud applications, i.e.,
applications delivered as a service over the Internet, while other
applications may be stored and run on the user equipment device. In
some embodiments, a user device may receive content from multiple
cloud resources simultaneously. For example, a user device can
stream audio from one cloud resource while downloading content from
a second cloud resource. Or a user device can download content from
multiple cloud resources for more efficient downloading. In some
embodiments, user equipment devices can use cloud resources for
processing operations such as the processing operations performed
by processing circuitry described in relation to FIG. 6.
[0118] As referred herein, the term "in response to" refers to
initiated as a result of. For example, a first action being
performed in response to a second action may include interstitial
steps between the first action and the second action. As referred
herein, the term "directly in response to" refers to caused by. For
example, a first action being performed directly in response to a
second action may not include interstitial steps between the first
action and the second action.
[0119] FIG. 8 depicts an illustrative rules engine for identifying
scoring opportunities in a fantasy sports matchup, in accordance
with some embodiments of the disclosure. Rules engine 800 may be
implemented by control circuitry 604 (e.g., in a manner instructed
to control circuitry 604 by the media application). Control
circuitry 604 may be part of user equipment (e.g., user equipment
100, which may have any or all of the functionality of user
television equipment 702, user computer equipment 704, and/or
wireless communications device 706), or of a remote server
separated from the user equipment by way of communication network
714, or distributed over a combination of both.
[0120] A rules engine uses, for example, a set of data structures
and modules to identify a user's scoring opportunities in a fantasy
sports matchup that pertain to the given scenarios of a live
sporting match. The generic nature of the rules engine allows the
system to be customized for different scoring systems, different
fantasy sports leagues, and different sports (e.g., football,
baseball, soccer, hockey). Thus, while the examples are described
with reference to a fantasy sports league based on NFL
performances, the same teaching could be applied elsewhere. An
exemplary set of data structures is illustrated in FIG. 9.
[0121] FIG. 9 depicts an illustrative set of data structures for
defining a scoring system of a fantasy sports league. The scoring
system is made up of collections of scoring rules, scoring roles,
position-scoring role links, and players.
[0122] A scoring rule data structure 900 comprises information that
describes a rule within a fantasy sport's league that gives a user
in that league fantasy points. For example, a fantasy league for
the NFL may provide a user with 1 point for every 10 rushing yards
a player. The scoring rule 900 includes, for example, the following
fields: action; score_type; point_value; dynamic_modifier; and
scoring_role. The action is a string value, e.g., "run ball," that
provides a name for the rule. The score_type provides an indication
of whether the score is static or dynamic (e.g., a fixed value or
derived value). The point_value field stores a float that is the
value of the score for that rule or serves as a portion of a
dynamic scoring rule. The dynamic_modifier field stores an equation
that is used to determine the final point value for a given action.
For example, the dynamic_modifier field may store an equation that
reads "point_value*yards/10" for a score rule that is a user
receives 1 point for every 10 yards ran with the ball. The
scoring_role is a string field that indicates a role associated
with the scoring rule, e.g., "rushing."
[0123] The scoring_role string field in the scoring rule data
structure 900 lines the scoring role with a scoring role as defined
in scoring_role 910. For example, different scoring roles may exist
under a given scoring system. In one example, a scoring system may
have scoring roles of: "passing," "rushing," "miscellaneous,"
"kicking," and "defense." Each role may be associated with a field
indicating a scoring category, such as whether the role requires
possession of a playing object, i.e., offense or defense. The
scoring roles are linked to positions using the position role link
data structure 915 which comprises a "scoring_role" string linking
to a scoring_role data structure and a "position_name" stored as a
string. Using this link structure, multiple positions can be linked
to the same scoring_role which is linked to multiple scoring rules.
Thus, the same rules can be applied to similarly situated
positions, e.g., running back, halfback, and fullback. The data
structures of FIG. 9 also include a player data structure 920. The
player structure 920 includes a player_id stored as, e.g., a
globally unique identifier, a player name stored as a string, a
team name stored as a string, a jersey number stored as a string or
alternatively as a number, a list of positions the player is
assigned, and, in some cases, a set of statistics related to the
player's performance.
[0124] Rules engine 800 begins with category module 805. Using
information about the current circumstances of a live sporting
event, e.g., the teams in the live sporting event, the position of
a playing object, the team with possession of the playing object,
the time remaining in the live sporting event, the athletes on the
playing surface, etc., the category module 805 determines scoring
categories associated with active players from a user's fantasy
roster. For example, a media application using control circuitry
604 implements the rule engine 800 and uses information that
indicates which team has possession of the playing object 803
(e.g., which team has possession of a football), along with a list
of the users' active players 804 in the live sporting event, to
extract a set of player scoring categories 806 for each active
player. For example, the rules engine 800 may use data structures
as described in FIG. 9 to retrieve a set of scoring categories for
the active players.
[0125] Using the example from FIG. 1, if the user has the 49ers'
running back and placekicker. then active players list 804 may
comprise those players. Furthermore, the information about the live
sporting event 803 may comprise an indicator that the 49ers are in
possession of the football, i.e., the 49ers are on offense. In this
example, category module 805 would identify offense as the scoring
category for the user's running back and placekicker in the player
scoring categories 806.
[0126] The player scoring categories 806 is used as input by the
role module 810 along with a list of position role links 808 to
determine a set of player scoring roles 813, i.e., a set of scoring
roles associated with players on the user's roster. For example, in
the example above, the user has two active players, a 49ers'
running back and 49ers' placekicker. Running backs are associated
by a position role link with a rushing role in an offensive playing
category. Placekickers are associated by a position role link with
a kicking role in an offensive playing category. Using the list of
player scoring categories 806 for this example, the role module can
locate a list of scoring roles 813 for the running back, e.g.,
"rushing," and for the placekicker, e.g., "kicking."
[0127] The scoring module 815 may use the information about the
live sporting event 803, list of scoring roles 813, and list of
scoring rules 814 to determine a list of scoring scenarios 816. For
example, the scoring module 815 may determine, based on the 49ers
having possession of the football on the 18-yard line, that the
49ers' running back has two scoring scenarios and the placekicker
has one scoring opportunity. For example, the running back may have
a 1-point scoring opportunity if the running back runs from the
18-yard line to at least the 8-yard line and may have a 7-point
scoring opportunity if the running back runs 18 yards for a
touchdown. Also, the rules engine 800 may determine the placekicker
has a 3-point opportunity if he kicks a field goal (which would be
for 35 yards under the NFL's criteria of adding 17 yards to the
position of the ball for field goals). The scoring scenarios 816
may be output to a target location module 820 that identifies a
location on the field of play that corresponds with each scoring
scenario, e.g., the goal post for the field goal, the 8-yard line
for the 1-point run, and the goal line for the 7-point run. The
target location module 820 generates a list of scoring
opportunities 830 with a notation of the location of interest on
the playing surface.
[0128] In some embodiments, the rules engine 800 also takes into
account whether a player is on the field of play when identifying
the list of scoring opportunities. This can be achieved by several
modules, such as the scoring module 815 which may inspect the
information about the live sporting event 803 to determine whether
a player is on the field of play and remove any scoring
opportunities that are associated with players on the user's roster
that are not on the active playing surface.
[0129] FIG. 10 depicts an illustrative set of scoring scenarios
1000 for a fantasy football scoring system. In FIG. 10, positions
list 1010 includes eleven positions placed in a list of 5 scoring
roles 1020. The set of scoring scenarios include a list of 21
scoring actions 1030 with corresponding point values 1040. The
relationship between positions, scoring roles, scoring rules, and
points is demonstrated by the set of scoring scenarios 1000. For
example, the data structures that define a scoring rule for rushing
per 10 yards is demonstrated in FIG. 11.
[0130] FIG. 11 depicts a set of data structures for defining a
scoring rule for a running rule in a fantasy football scoring
system. In FIG. 11, a scoring rule 1100 defines a rule for the
action "run ball" that is a "dynamic" score type. The point value
for scoring rule 1100 is 1 point and is modified by the equation
"point value*yards/10", i.e., the user receives 1 point for every
ten yards when the ball is run by a player. The scoring role is
"rushing." The scoring role 1110 defines the "rushing" role in a
"offense" playing category. Position role link 1115 links the
"running back" position to the "rushing" scoring role 1110. FIG. 11
also depicts a player data structure 1120 for player ID
"032149682". Player 1120 is named "Jerick McKinnon," plays for the
"San Francisco 49ers," and wears jersey number 28. The player is
listed as having one position: "running back." The player 1120 data
structure may also include a list of statistics.
[0131] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of illustrative steps for generating
a display of information about fantasy sports scoring opportunities
in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. It should be
noted that process 1200 or any step thereof could be performed on,
or provided by, any of the devices shown in FIGS. 6-7. For example,
process 1200 may be executed by control circuitry 604 (FIG. 6) as
instructed by a media application implemented on user equipment 702
in order to present on-screen graphics. In addition, one or more
steps of process 1200 may be incorporated into or combined with one
or more steps of any other process or embodiment (e.g., process
1300 (FIG. 13)).
[0132] At step 1205, the control circuitry 604, using a media
application, generates for display a video of a live sporting
event. At step 1207, the control circuitry 604 retrieves, from a
memory (e.g., storage 608 (FIG. 6) or media content source 716
(FIG. 7) or from a remote server 715), current status data of a
fantasy sports event in which a user is participating. In some
embodiments, the control circuitry 604 may instruct communication
circuitry to retrieve the current status data from a remote source,
e.g., a fantasy sports service provider such as DraftKings, Yahoo!,
ESPN, or Fan Duel using a service API or by scraping web data. In
some embodiments, the media application may inspect information
provided by a media content source (e.g., content source 716 (FIG.
7)) to obtain the current status data and store that information in
storage 608.
[0133] At step 1210, the control circuitry 604 identifies players
from a roster maintained by the user for the fantasy sports event.
In some embodiments, the control circuitry 604 may identify all
players on a user's fantasy sports roster. In some embodiments, the
media application may only identify the players that the user has
set as active, for example in a fantasy sports scenario in which a
user selects a subset of his full roster for the well. In some
embodiments, the control circuitry 604 may identify only the
players from the user's roster that are participating in the live
sporting event. At step 1215, the control circuitry 604 obtains a
set of rules, e.g., a set of rules defined according to data
structures as described in FIG. 9, that define scoring
opportunities in the fantasy sports event for the user as a
function of possible actions and players in the sporting event. In
some embodiments, the control circuitry 604 may use communication
circuitry to obtain the rules from a remote server (e.g., remote
server 715) that houses information about the fantasy sports
matchup or league. In some embodiments, the user may define the
rules in a user input interface 610 provided by a media
application. At step 1220, the control circuitry 604 obtains data
representing the current circumstances of the live sporting event.
For example, the control circuitry 604 may obtain information about
a football game from a remote server 715. In some embodiments, the
control circuitry 604 may obtain information about the live
sporting event from data transmitted along with the video of the
sporting event from a content source (e.g., media content source
716).
[0134] At step 1225, the control circuitry 604 applies the set of
rules to the data representing the current circumstances of the
live sporting event to identify possible scoring scenarios in the
fantasy sports event. For example, the control circuitry 604 may
run the set of rules, such as rules 812, through a rules engine,
e.g., engine 800 of FIG. 8. In some embodiments, the control
circuitry 604 also identifies locations on a playing space of the
live sporting event, e.g., an NFL football game, that correspond to
the possible scoring scenarios. For example, the control circuitry
604 may determine that a field goal is associated with the field
goal post, that a 10-yard run is associated with the 8-yard line,
and that an 18-yard touchdown run is associated with the goal
line.
[0135] At step 1230, the control circuitry 604 generates for
display, with the video of the live sporting event, information
about the possible scoring scenarios. For example, the control
circuitry 604 may generate the fantasy sports information 120 (FIG.
1), fantasy sports information 225 (FIG. 2), or fantasy sports
information 330 (FIG. 3). In some embodiments, the information may
include identification of the locations on the playing space of the
live sporting event that correspond to the possible scoring
scenarios.
[0136] In some embodiments, process 1200 may continue at step 1245,
where the control circuitry 604 determines whether a first scoring
scenario in the possible scoring scenarios would change the winner
of the fantasy sports event. For example, if the user is losing a
fantasy sports matchup by 4 points, then a 5-point or greater swing
would change the winner of the user's fantasy sports matchup. Using
information about the current state of fantasy sports event, as
described above, the control circuitry 604 may determine that one
of the possible scoring opportunities can provide the points
necessary to change the winner of the fantasy sports matchup. At
step 1250, the control circuitry 604 may, in response to
determining that the first scoring scenario would change who leads
the fantasy sports event, emphasize the information about the first
scoring scenario in comparison to information about other possible
scoring scenarios. For example, the control circuitry 604 may, as
illustrated in FIG. 1, place a highlighting box 126 around the
18-point scoring opportunity or may place an emphasis icon 127 near
the scoring opportunity.
[0137] In some embodiments, process 1200 may include steps for
displaying scoring opportunities associated with a second user. At
step 1260, the control circuitry 604 may, using the techniques
described above, identify a second set of possible scoring
scenarios for a second user participating in the fantasy sports
event. For example, a second user may be watching the video of the
live sporting event with another user. The control circuitry 604
may present an interface (using, e.g., user input interface 610 and
display 612) to the users to allow the users to identify
themselves, including information sufficient for the media
application to determine the fantasy sports roster associated with
the user. In some embodiments, the control circuitry 604 may
communicate with a user's personal device, e.g., a user's mobile
phone or tablet, to retrieve information identifying the user. Once
the users are identified, the control circuitry 604 may retrieve
the rosters for the user and identify scoring opportunities in a
fantasy sports league associated with each user. At step 1270, the
control circuitry 604 may generate for display, with the video of
the live sporting event, information about the second set of
possible scoring scenarios, including identification associating
the second set of possible scoring scenarios with the second
user.
[0138] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of illustrative steps for mapping
information about scoring opportunities onto video of a live
sporting event in accordance with some embodiments of the
disclosure. At step 1305, the control circuitry 604 maps
coordinates in the video of the live sporting event to the
locations on the playing space of the live sporting event that
correspond to the possible scoring scenarios. For example, the
control circuitry 604 may determine that the current status
information of the live sporting event indicates the playing object
is on the 18-yard line. Using, for example, an image recognition
module, the control circuitry 604 may determine the x-y coordinates
of the ball in the video, e.g., video 105, of the live sporting
event. Further, the control circuitry 604 may use landmarks in the
video of the live sporting event, e.g., the hash marks of a
football field, to identify the position on the football field. In
some embodiments, the control circuitry 604 may identify, for
example, yardage markers in the video to orient the playing surface
with the video of the playing surface. At step 1310, the control
circuitry 604 determines a graphical overlay for the mapped
locations on the playing space of the live sporting event to
indicate the corresponding possible scoring scenarios. For example,
the control circuitry 604 may determine a graphical overlay 315
(FIG. 3) to display over a portion of the playing field on the
video of the live sporting event. In step 1315, the control
circuitry 604 modifies the video of the live sporting event to
include the graphical overlay.
[0139] FIG. 14 is a flowchart of illustrative steps for emphasizing
a player on a user's fantasy sports roster in video of a live
sporting event in accordance with some embodiments of the
disclosure. At step 1405, the control circuitry 604 may determine a
final player from the roster maintained by the user for the fantasy
sports event, wherein there are no other players on the roster that
can impact who leads the fantasy sports event. At step 1410, the
control circuitry 604 tracks when the final player is active on the
playing space of the live sporting event. At step 1415, the control
circuitry 604 emphasizes the final player in the video of the live
sporting event as compared with other participants of the live
sporting event.
[0140] FIG. 15 is a flowchart of illustrative steps for providing a
secondary display device with information about scoring
opportunities in a fantasy sporting event in accordance with some
embodiments of the disclosure. At step 1505, the control circuitry
604 may establish communication, using, e.g., communication
circuitry, with a secondary display device, e.g., goggles 220. At
step 1510, the control circuitry 104 may provide the secondary
display device with the information about the possible scoring
scenarios for display on the secondary display device.
[0141] FIG. 16 is a flowchart of illustrative steps for displaying
information about statistics of a player on a user's fantasy sports
roster related to a scoring opportunity that the player could
satisfy. At step 1605, the control circuitry 604 analyzes a first
of the possible scoring scenarios to determine a player
participating in the live sporting event whose performance could
satisfy the first possible scoring scenario. At step 1610, the
control circuitry 604 may retrieve statistics of the determined
player relevant to the first possible scoring scenario. At step
1615, the control circuitry 604 generates for display, with the
information about the possible scoring scenarios, information about
the statistics of the determined player.
[0142] FIG. 17 is a flowchart of illustrative steps for emphasizing
a selected player in a video of a live sporting event. At step
1705, the control circuitry 604 receives a selection of a possible
scoring scenario from a user. At step 1710, the control circuitry
604 analyzes the selected possible scoring scenarios to determine a
player participating in the live sporting event whose performance
could satisfy the first possible scoring scenario. At step 1715,
the control circuitry 604, in the video of the live sporting event,
emphasizes the determined player.
[0143] FIG. 18 is a flowchart of illustrative steps for updating
the scoring opportunities based on changed circumstances in a live
sporting event. At step 1805, the control circuitry 604 tracks a
playing object in the video of the live sporting event. At step
1810, the control circuitry 604 determines that the current
circumstances of the live sporting event are changed, based on a
current location of the playing object in comparison to a previous
location of the playing object. At step 1815, the control circuitry
604 applies the set of rules to data representing the changed
circumstance of the live sporting event to identify updated scoring
scenarios in the fantasy sports event. At step 1820, the control
circuitry 604 generates for display, with the video of the live
sporting event, information about the updated scoring
scenarios.
[0144] It is contemplated that the steps or descriptions of each of
FIGS. 12-18 may be used with any other embodiment of this
disclosure. In addition, the steps and descriptions described in
relation to FIGS. 12-18 may be done in alternative orders or in
parallel to further the purposes of this disclosure. For example,
each of these steps may be performed in any order or in parallel or
substantially simultaneously to reduce lag or increase the speed of
the system or method. Furthermore, it should be noted that any of
the devices or equipment discussed in relation to FIGS. 1-7 could
be used to perform one or more of the steps in FIGS. 12-18.
[0145] It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art
that methods involved in the present invention may be embodied in a
computer program product that includes a computer-usable and/or
-readable medium. For example, such a computer-usable medium may
consist of a read-only memory device, such as a CD-ROM disk or
conventional ROM device, or a random-access memory, such as a hard
drive device or a computer diskette, having a computer-readable
program code stored thereon. It should also be understood that
methods, techniques, and processes involved in the present
disclosure may be executed using processing circuitry. For
instance, determining a position of a user may be performed, e.g.,
by processing circuitry 606 of FIG. 6. The processing circuitry,
for instance, may be a general-purpose processor, a customized
integrated circuit (e.g., an ASIC), or a field-programmable gate
array (FPGA) within user equipment 702, media content source 716,
or media guidance data source 718. For example, a profile, as
described herein, may be stored in, and retrieved from, storage 608
of FIG. 6, or media guidance data source 718 of FIG. 7.
Furthermore, processing circuitry, or a computer program, may
update settings of user equipment 100 stored within storage 608 of
FIG. 6 or media guidance data source 718 of FIG. 7.
[0146] The processes discussed above are intended to be
illustrative and not limiting. One skilled in the art would
appreciate that the steps of the processes discussed herein may be
omitted, modified, combined, and/or rearranged, and any additional
steps may be performed without departing from the scope of the
invention. More generally, the above disclosure is meant to be
exemplary and not limiting. Only the claims that follow are meant
to set bounds as to what the present invention includes.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the features and limitations
described in any one embodiment may be applied to any other
embodiment herein, and flowcharts or examples relating to one
embodiment may be combined with any other embodiment in a suitable
manner, done in different orders, or done in parallel. In addition,
the systems and methods described herein may be performed in real
time. It should also be noted, the systems and/or methods described
above may be applied to, or used in accordance with, other systems
and/or methods.
[0147] While some portions of this disclosure may make reference to
"convention," any such reference is merely for the purpose of
providing context to the invention(s) of the instant disclosure,
and does not form any admission as to what constitutes the state of
the art.
[0148] It should also be noted that although some embodiments of
this disclosure relate to the use of a media application to present
information about scoring opportunities in a fantasy sports contest
to a user, the media application may be used to present information
about scoring opportunities related to other side-game contests
outside the fantasy sports context. For example, in some
embodiments, the media application may access a user profile to
determine that a user may be involved in a side-game related to
outcome of a horse race (e.g., having placed a wager on a trifecta)
that is not associated with a fantasy sports team of a user. In
some embodiments, users may be involved in side-games related to
electronic sports, i.e., "eSports," events such as first person
action or multiplayer online battle arena games.
* * * * *
References