Interactive wagering system with automatic runner selection

An interactive wagering application is provided that automatically picks horses for a user to use when creating a wager for a race to be run. The interactive wagering application may select the numbers using a random number generation application implemented on computer equipment at a transaction processing and subscription management system 24. The user may direct the interactive wagering application to automatically select the horses for the race by selecting an on-screen option or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to interactive wagering, and more particularly, to interactive wagering applications that allow runners for wagers on races to be automatically selected.

Wagering is a popular leisure activity. For example, many racing fans wager on events such as horse, dog, and harness racing. However, it may be inconvenient to attend racing events in person. Not all racing fans have sufficient time to visit racetracks as often as they would like and some fans have difficulties in obtaining suitable transportation to the track. Off-track betting establishments are available for fans who cannot attend racing events in person, but fans must still travel to the off-track betting establishments.

As a result, systems have been developed in which fans may place off-track wagers using personal computers connected to the Internet, standard telephones, or set-top boxes.

It is an object of the present invention to improve such systems by providing an interactive wagering system that automatically generates runner numbers for users to use in placing wagers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An interactive wagering system is provided in which an interactive wagering application automatically randomly selects a horse or horses for a wager on a race to be run. The user may select a racetrack for the wager, a desired race at that racetrack, a desired wager type (win, place, show, exacta, etc.), and a desired wager amount. The user may also select an on-screen option that directs the interactive wagering application to automatically randomly select which horse or horses to use for the wager. If the user is satisfied with the horse or horses that the interactive wagering application has randomly selected for the wager, the user may submit the wager for processing by a transaction processing and subscription management system.

If desired, the on-screen option that is used to invoke the automatic horse selection feature may be presented for the user on a horse selection screen. The user may also be provided with an opportunity to select horses manually. A graphic image that is related to the horses that are automatically selected may be displayed on the horse selection screen.

The interactive wagering application may be implemented using various platforms including set-top box arrangements and other user television equipment, personal computers, notebook computers, handheld computers and other user computer equipment, cellular telephones with displays, telephones without displays, and other user telephone equipment, etc.

The interactive wagering application may be used to place wagers on various different types of races, including dog races, horse races, harness races, etc.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An illustrative interactive wagering system10in accordance with the present invention is shown inFIG. 1. Aspects of the invention apply to various different types of wagering, but are described herein primarily in the context of interactive wagering on races (e.g., horse races) for specificity and clarity.

Races may be run at racetracks12, which may be located at various geographic locations. Races run at the racetracks may be simulcast to television viewers. For example, simulcast videos may be provided to users with satellite receivers or to off-track betting establishments via satellite.

System10may be used to provide an interactive wagering service to users of various user equipment. An interactive wagering application may be used to provide the wagering service. The interactive wagering application may run locally on the user equipment (e.g., on a set-top box, personal computer, cellular telephone, handheld computing device, etc.) or may run using a client-server or distributed architecture where some of the application is implemented locally on the user equipment in the form of a client process and some of the application is implemented at a remote location (e.g., on a server computer or other such equipment in the system) as a server process. These arrangements are merely illustrative. Other suitable techniques for implementing the interactive wagering application may be used if desired.

Real-time videos from racetracks12may also be provided to video production system14for distribution to users as part of a television wagering service (i.e., a wagering-related television channel or Internet-delivered service or the like). If desired, multiple simulcast videos may be provided to video production system14in real-time. Talent (e.g., commentators) for the television wagering service provided by the interactive wagering application may be located at studio16. Studio16may provide a video feed containing commentary and the like to video production system14. Graphic overlays for the television wagering service may be added to the service at video production system14.

The television wagering service may use video production system14to combine selected video segments from desired racing simulcasts with the video feed from studio16and suitable graphic overlays. If desired, video production system14or a separate facility may be used to reformat simulcasts from racetracks12. For example, if racetracks12provide simulcasts as traditional analog television channels, video production system14(or a separate facility) may convert these simulcasts or portions of these simulcasts into digital signals (e.g., digital video signals) or into a different number of analog signals. Digital video signals may require less bandwidth than analog video signals and may be appropriate for situations in which videos are to be transmitted over either high or low bandwidth pathways. Low bandwidth pathways may include telephone lines, the Internet, etc.

Video production system14may be used to provide a television wagering service that includes selected simulcast videos, video from studio16, and graphic overlays to television distribution facilities18(for redistribution to user television equipment22and user computer equipment20), to user computer equipment20, and to user telephone equipment32(if user telephone equipment32has a display capable of displaying moving images). Television distribution facilities18may be any suitable facilities for supplying television to users, such as cable system headends, satellite systems, broadcast television systems, or other suitable systems or combinations of such systems. User computer equipment20may be any suitable computer equipment that supports an interactive wagering application. For example, user computer equipment20may be a personal computer. User computer equipment20may also be based on a mainframe computer, a workstation, a networked computer or computers, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a handheld computing device such as a personal digital assistant or other small portable computer, etc.

Each of television distribution facilities18is typically located at a different geographic location. Users with user television equipment22may receive the television wagering service from an associated television distribution facility. User television equipment22may include, for example, a television or other suitable monitor. A television may be used to watch the television wagering service on a traditional analog television channel. User television equipment22may also include a digital or analog set-top box connected to a television distribution facility18by a cable path. A digital set-top box may be used to receive the television wagering service on a digital channel. If desired, user television equipment22may contain a satellite receiver, a WebTV box, a personal computer television (PC/TV), or hardware similar to such devices into which set-top box capabilities have been integrated. A recording device such as a videocassette recorder or digital recording device (e.g., a personal, video recorder or digital video recorder based on hard disk drives or the like) may be used in user television equipment22to store videos. The recording device may be separate from or part of the other components of user television equipment22.

User computer equipment20may receive the television wagering service using a video card or other video-capable equipment to receive analog or digital (e.g., moving picture experts group or MPEG) videos from a television distribution facility. User computer equipment20may also receive the television wagering service directly from video production system14using, for example, a modem link. If desired the video for the television wagering service may be compressed (e.g., using MPEG techniques). This may be useful, for example, if the path to user computer equipment20is a modem connection using telephone links. If video production system14is only used to serve user computer equipment20without traditional analog television capabilities, video production system14may only need to supply such digitally-compressed video signals and not analog television signals.

Video clips of races and other simulcast information may be provided to users in the form of a television wagering service or by an interactive wagering service provided by the interactive wagering application. If desired, race-related videos may be provided to the user by using video production system14or other suitable equipment to route appropriate video clips from the simulcasts to the user in real-time. Video clips may also be stored for later viewing. For example, one or more video servers located at racetracks12, video production system14, television distribution facilities18, or other suitable locations may be used to store video clips. The stored videos may then be played back in real-time or downloaded for viewing at user television equipment22, user computer equipment20, or user telephone equipment32. The video clips may contain videos of races, commentary, interviews with jockeys, or any other suitable race-related information. If desired, real-time or stored videos may be provided from racetracks12directly to user television equipment22, user computer equipment20, or user telephone equipment32over the Internet or other suitable communications paths without involving video production system14. Videos may also be provided by routing video signals through equipment located elsewhere in system10. For example, videos may be routed through transaction processing and subscription management system24.

Transaction processing and subscription management system24may contain computer equipment26and other equipment for supporting system functions such as transaction processing (e.g., handling tasks related to wagers, product purchasing, adjusting the amount of funds in user accounts based on the outcomes of wagers, video clip ordering, etc.), data-distribution (e.g., for distributing racing data to the users), and subscriber management (e.g., features related to opening an account for a user, closing an account, allowing a user to add or withdraw funds from an account, changing the user's address or personal identification number, etc.). Databases within transaction processing and subscription management system24or associated with system24may be used to store racing data, wagering data and other transaction data, and subscriber data such as such as information on the user's current account balance, past wagering history, individual wager limits, personal identification number, billing addresses, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, social security numbers, etc. Using such databases may allow the user to access information more quickly and allows for central administration of the wagering service.

If desired, racing videos and other services may be provided using servers and other equipment located at transaction processing and subscription management system24. For example, video clips may be provided to the user on-demand. Interactive advertisements may be provided to the user. When the user selects a desired advertisement, transaction processing and subscription management system24may provide additional information or other services related to the advertisement to the user.

Product ordering services may be implemented using computer equipment at transaction processing and subscriber management system24to handle orders and to assist in adjusting the appropriate account of the user accordingly. Orders may be fulfilled using merchandise fulfillment facilities34. Merchandise fulfillment facilities34may be operated solely to provide merchandise fulfillment or may be associated with independently-operated mail-order or on-line businesses. Similar facilities may be used to allow users to order services.

Statistical racing data such as the post times for each race, jockey names, runner names and the number of races associated with each track, handicapping information (e.g., information on past performances such as the number of wins and losses for the past year, etc.), and weather conditions at various tracks may be provided by racing data collection and processing system28. Some of the data may be collected from racetracks12and some may be provided by third party information sources such as Axcis Pocket Information Network, Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif. or other suitable data sources.

Racing data may also be provided from totalisators30. Totalisators30are the computer systems that may be used to handle wagers made at the racetracks, made at off-track betting establishments, and made using interactive wagering system10. Totalisators30generate wagering odds in real-time. Totalisators30generate these odds based on information on which wagers are being placed (e.g., based on information on which wagers are being placed on races at racetracks12). Totalisators30are available from companies such as Amtote International, Inc. of Hunt Valley, Md. Totalisators30may be associated with individual racetracks12or groups of racetracks12. Totalisators30may communicate with one another using a communication protocol known as the Intertote Track System Protocol (ITSP). This allows totalisators30to share wagering pools. Totalisators30may provide racing data including information on the current races at racetracks12, the number of races associated with each racetrack, win, place, and show odds and pool totals for each horse or other runner, and exacta, trifecta, and quinella payoff predictions and pool totals for every possible combination of runners. Totalisators30may also provide current odds and other real-time racing data for other types of wagers. Totalisators30may provide the time until post time for each race.

Totalisators30may provide race results, such as the order-of-finish list for at least the first three positions and payoff values versus a standard wager amount for win, place, and show, for each runner in the finish list. Payoff values may be provided for winning complex wager types such as exacta, trifecta, quinella, pick-n (where n is the number of races involved in the pick-n wager), and daily double. The payoff values may be accompanied by a synopsis of the associated finish list.

Totalisators30may also provide program information of the type typically provided in printed racing programs. Such program information may include early odds, early scratches, race descriptions (including the distance of each race and the race surface—grass, dirt, artificial turf, etc.), allowed class ratings (based on a fixed ratio of external criteria), purse value (payoff to winning runner), allowed age range of runners, and the allowed number of wins and starts for each runner.

If desired, some of the information provided to transaction processing and subscription management system24by totalisators30(such as the program information or other suitable racing data) may be provided by racing data collection and processing system28. Similarly, some of the information provided to transaction processing and subscription management system24by racing data collection and processing system28may be provided by totalisators30. Moreover, the foregoing examples of different suitable types of racing data are merely illustrative. Any suitable data related to racing may be provided to transaction processing and subscription management system if desired.

Transaction processing and subscription management system24provides the racing data to users at user television equipment22, user computer equipment20, and user telephone equipment32for use in following race results and developing wagers. If desired, racing data may be provided to users using paths that do not directly involve transaction processing and subscription management system24. For example, racing data may be provided from racing data collection and processing system28to user television equipment22, user computer equipment20, or user telephone equipment32using the Internet or other suitable communications paths.

User telephone equipment32may be a conventional telephone, a cordless telephone, a cellular telephone or other portable wireless telephone, or any other suitable telephone equipment. Users at user television equipment22and user computer equipment20may view information on the racing data on a television or other suitable monitor. Users at user telephone equipment32may listen to racing data using an interactive voice system. User telephone equipment32may be based on cellular telephones with displays. Users may view racing data displayed on such displays.

Users who wish to place wagers may establish an account at transaction processing and subscription management system24. An account may also be established at one of totalisators30. The user and the interactive wagering services may have their own bank accounts at financial institutions38. A user may set up an account electronically by using user television equipment22, user computer equipment20, or user telephone equipment32to interact with the subscriber management functions of transaction processing and subscription management system24. If desired, accounts may be established with the interactive wagering service with the assistance of customer service representatives at customer service facility36. Customer service facility36may be at the same location as transaction processing and subscription management system24, may be part of system24, or may be located remote from system24. Customer service representatives at customer service facility36may be reached by telephone. If user telephone equipment32is used to access the interactive wagering service, for example, user telephone equipment32may be used to reach the customer service representative using communications path42. If user television equipment22or user computer equipment20is being used with the service, a telephone at the same location as that equipment may be used to reach the customer service representative.

The user's identity may be checked using social security number information or other identification information with the assistance of subscriber verification facility40. The services of subscriber verification facility40are used to ensure that the user lives in a geographic area in which wagering is legal, that the user is of a legal age, and that the identification information (e.g., the user's social security number) matches the name provided by the user. If the user is using a cellular telephone or handheld computing device, the user's present physical location may be determined by determining which general part of the cellular telephone network is being accessed by the user or by using the cellular network or a handset-based location device such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver in the body of the cellular telephone to pinpoint the user's location. This location information may be used to verify that the user is located in a geographic area where wagering is legal.

In a typical enrollment process, the user provides personal information to the interactive wagering service and provides funds with a credit card or funds from the user's bank account. The interactive wagering service sets up an account for the user at transaction processing and subscription management system24and directs one of totalisators30to set up a new account for the user at the totalisator. The totalisator is also directed to credit the user's account to reflect the amount of funds provided by the user. After the user places a wager and wins or loses, the totalisator adjusts the user's totalisator account to reflect the outcome of the wager. The totalisator may periodically inform the interactive wagering service of the adjusted balance in the user's account. This may be accomplished using any suitable technique (e.g., periodically, continuously, on-request, etc.). For example, reports may be collected periodically (e.g., once a day in an end-of-day report) and provided to the interactive wagering service to reconcile the account balances at transaction processing and subscription management system24with the account balances at totalisators30.

If the user makes a balance inquiry, the inquiry may be passed to the appropriate totalisator by transaction processing and subscription management system24. If the user is charged a fee for subscribing to the service, the service may debit the fee from the user's account at the transaction processing and subscription management system24.

The accounts at totalisators30and transaction processing and subscription management system24are typically maintained separately, because the business entities that operate totalisators30and transaction processing and subscription management system24are independent. If desired, financial functions related to opening and maintaining user accounts and the like may be handled using computer equipment at another location such as one of financial institutions38or other location remote from totalisators30and system24. Such financial functions may also be implemented primarily at a totalisator30or primarily at the transaction processing and subscription management system24if desired.

Users at user television equipment22, user computer equipment20, and user telephone equipment32may place wagers by providing wagering data and otherwise interacting with transaction processing and subscription management system24. The interactive wagering service may provide a user at user television equipment22, user computer equipment20, or user telephone equipment32that has display capabilities with screens containing various racing data. For example, the user may be presented with screens that allow the user to view the current odds for horses in an upcoming race at a given track.

The service may provide the user with interactive screens containing menus and selectable options that allow the user to specify the type of wager in which the user is interested and the desired wager amount. With a set-top box arrangement, for example, the user may use a remote control or wireless keyboard to navigate the various menus and selectable options. With a personal computer, the user may use a keyboard, mouse, trackball, touch pad, or other suitable input or pointing device. With a cellular telephone with a display, the user may use buttons on the telephone. When the user has made appropriate selections to define a desired wager, the user television equipment, user computer equipment, or user telephone equipment may transmit wagering data for the wager to transaction processing and subscription management system24.

Users with telephones may also interact with the service using an interactive voice response system located at transaction processing and subscription management system24. The interactive voice response system may present menu options to the user in the form of audio prompts (e.g., “press 1 to select a $2 wager amount,” etc.). The user may interact with the service be pressing the corresponding buttons on a touch tone telephone. User telephone equipment32that is based on cellular telephones allows the user to interact with the wagering service in this way. User telephone equipment32that is based on cellular telephones with messaging and display capabilities also allows the user to interact visually with the interactive wagering service.

The components of system10may be interconnected using various communications paths44. Communications paths44may include satellite paths, coaxial cable paths, fiber-optic paths, twisted pair paths, other wire or cable-based links, wireless paths through free space, or any other suitable paths or combination of such paths. Communications over paths44may involve analog transmissions, digital transmissions, wireless transmissions, microwave transmissions, radio-frequency transmissions, optical transmissions, audio transmissions, or any other suitable type of transmissions or combination of such transmissions. Communications may involve Internet transmissions, private network transmissions, packet-based transmissions, television channel transmissions, transmissions in the vertical blanking interval of a television channel or on a television sideband, MPEG transmissions, etc. Communications may involve wireless pager or other messaging transmissions. Communications paths44may include cable connected to cable modems, digital subscriber lines, integrated services digital network (ISDN) lines, or any other suitable paths. Examples of suitable communications paths are described below. Those examples are, however, merely illustrative. Any of the communications path arrangements described above or other suitable arrangements may be used if desired.

Communications paths that carry video and particularly uncompressed analog video or lightly-compressed or full-screen digital video generally use more bandwidth than communications paths that carry only data or that carry partial-screen digital video. For example, if it is desired to transmit high-quality simulcasts of races from racetracks12to video production system14, analog or digital videos may be transmitted from racetracks12to video production system14over path44ausing satellite links. Video may be transmitted from studio16to video production system14over path44busing a satellite link or a high-speed terrestrial path such as a fiber-optic path. Studio16may also be located at the same site as video production system14, thereby avoiding the need for a long-haul transmission path. Videos may be transmitted from video production system14to user computer equipment20over path44cusing a modem link (using, for example, a digital subscriber line, a telephone network link, a wireless link etc.) The modem link may be made over a private network.

A user with a cable modem may connect a personal computer or other such user computer equipment20to an associated cable system headend using path44d. (The headend in such an arrangement would be one of the television distribution facilities18shown inFIG. 1.) The user may then receive videos from the headend via cable modem. Videos may be provided to the headend over path44eusing a network link, fiber optic links, cable links, microwave links, satellite links, etc. A user with a set-top box or similar device (shown inFIG. 1as user television equipment22) may also receive videos from a cable system headend using a cable modem or other such communications device over path44f. In addition, a user with user television equipment may receive videos over the Internet or a private network using a telephone-based modem or other such communications device using path44g. In a system with distributed processing, interactive wagering services may be provided using a television distribution facility18that includes equipment that supplements or replaces at least some of the equipment at transaction processing and subscription management system24.

If desired, user television equipment22or user computer equipment20may receive analog or digital videos from an associated television distribution facility over the communications paths normally used to distribute television programming (e.g., paths44fand44d). For example, videos may be received as part of a dedicated interactive wagering service television channel. If videos are provided as digital signals (e.g., MPEG signals), 10 or more digital videos may be carried on a single analog channel (or one digital video may be carried on one-tenth of the bandwidth of an analog channel). If the videos are not full-screen videos, even more videos may be simultaneously provided without a loss of image quality.

Racing videos may be provided to user telephone equipment32over a partially-wireless telephone Internet link or other telephone link using path44n.

If desired, racing data may accompany the racing videos along any of these paths. Moreover, racing videos may be provided by routing them directly from racetracks12to user television equipment22, user computer equipment20(e.g., over the Internet or a private network, etc.), or user telephone equipment32. Racing videos may also be provided by routing them through transaction processing and subscription management system24. If a cellular telephone or portable computing device has sufficient display capabilities to support moving images, racing videos may be displayed. Such videos may be provided using any suitable path, such as a direct path from racetracks12, a path through video production system14or other suitable video processing equipment, through a hub such as transaction processing and subscription management system24, etc. Racing videos may be provided in real-time or may be recorded for later distribution. Videos that are not provided in real-time may be downloaded by user television equipment22, user computer equipment20, a cellular telephone, or other suitable user equipment at a lower data rate than would otherwise be required and may be downloaded in the background if desired. Such videos may also be provided to the user at real-time video rates for direct viewing by the user.

Racing data and other information related to the interactive wagering service may be provided to users over paths connected to transaction processing and subscription management system24. For example, racing data and other data for the service may be provided to user computer equipment20over path44husing a modem link. Path44hmay be a private network path or an Internet path. Path44hmay use telephone lines, digital subscriber lines, ISDN lines, wireless data paths, or any other suitable type of communications links. User television equipment22may receive-data for the wagering service over communications path44i, which may be a telephone line, digital subscriber line, ISDN line, or other suitable type of communications path and which may use a private network path or an Internet path, etc.

Data for the wagering service may be provided to users of the interactive wagering application via communications path44jand paths44fand44d. Communications path44jmay be provided over a private network, using the public telephone network, using satellite links, or any other suitable type of links. Data from paths such as path44jmay be routed to paths such as paths44fand44ddirectly by associated television distribution facilities18, or may be buffered at television distribution facilities18if desired. Paths44fand44dmay include coaxial cable and use of paths44fand44dmay involve the use of cable modems or the like. If data is provided over path44jand path44for path44dusing an Internet protocol, a web browser or similar software running on user television equipment22or user computer equipment20may be used to access the data. Such software may be integrated into the interactive wagering application or may be used separately. Software may also be used to view videos and may be used on other platforms (e.g., advanced cellular telephones) if desired.

The communications paths44kthat are used to connect various other components of the system typically do not carry high-bandwidth video signals. Accordingly, paths44kmay be telephone-like paths that are part of the Internet or a private network. Such paths and various other paths44may be dedicated connections for security, reliability, and economy.

User telephone equipment32may receive information for the wagering service via path44m. If user telephone equipment32is a standard (non-cellular) telephone, such information may be in the form of audio prompts (e.g., “press 1 to place a wager”) and audio racing data (“the current win odds for horse 2 are 5-1”). Transaction data processing and subscription management system24may contain interactive voice response equipment that provides such information to the user and that responds to touch-tone signals from the user when the user responds to prompts by pressing buttons on the user's telephone.

If user telephone equipment32is a cellular telephone, racing data and other information for the interactive wagering service may be provided to the user by using a cellular wireless connection as part of path44m. Users with cellular telephones may be provided with audio prompts using an interactive voice response system located at transaction processing and subscription management system24to which the users may respond by pressing cellular telephone buttons to generate touch-tone signals.

Racing data and other information for the interactive wagering service may be provided to cellular telephones in the form of alphanumeric messages. Such messages may be transmitted to the user by using paging or other alphanumeric messaging formats or any other suitable data communications scheme. If desired, data may be provided to the cellular telephones over the voice channel and decoded by the cellular telephone using modem circuitry or other suitable circuitry. Data may also be provided using any other suitable cellular or wireless path. Regardless of the way in which racing data and other information for the interactive wagering service are provided to the cellular telephone, such information may be provided to the user by displaying it on the cellular telephone display screen or by presenting it in audible form through the speaker of the cellular telephone.

Racing data and other interactive wagering service information for the users may be provided in one or more continuous data streams, may be provided periodically (e.g., once per hour or once per day), or may be provided using a client-server arrangement in which data is requested by a client processor (e.g., user television equipment22, user computer equipment20, user telephone equipment32, or any other such equipment) from a server (e.g., a server implemented using computer equipment26at transaction-processing and subscription management system24or computer equipment at another suitable location. Videos may also be provided using any of these techniques.

A return communications path between the user and the interactive wagering service may be used to allow the user to place wagers and otherwise interact with the interactive wagering service. For example, a user with a standard telephone or a cellular telephone may interact with the service by pressing touch-tone keys on the telephone in response to audio prompts provided by an interactive voice response system at transaction processing and subscription management system24. If desired, users may call customer service representatives at customer service facility36and place wagers with manual assistance. The user of a cellular telephone may interact with the wagering service by selecting menu options and otherwise interacting with information displayed on the cellular telephone. When a selection is made, software implemented on the telephone may be used to assist the user in transmitting appropriate data (e.g., wagering data) to the wagering service. Such data may be transmitted using any suitable technique. For example, data may be transmitted using a wireless data link that is separate from the cellular voice channels. Data may also be transmitted over the voice channel (e.g., using a modem built into the cellular telephone, by automatically generating touch-tone signals that may be recognized by the interactive voice response system at transaction processing and subscription management system24, or using any other suitable arrangement). These approaches may be used even if the user receives racing data and other information for the service using a platform other than a telephone-based platform.

Users with user television equipment22may interact with the service by sending data (e.g., wager data) to transaction processing and subscription management system24using path44ior using paths44fand44j. Users with user computer equipment20may send data (e.g., wager data) to transaction processing and subscription management system24via path44hor paths44dand44j. Users at any user equipment may send data for the service to locations other than transaction processing and subscription management system24. For example, the user may provide information directly to customer service facility36, etc.

If desired, the user may send data to the service at transaction processing and subscription management system24using different paths than those used to receive data from transaction processing and subscription management system24. For example, racing data may be received at user television equipment22via paths44jand44f, whereas data may be sent by the user from user television equipment22to transaction processing and subscription management system24using path44i, etc. Moreover, the paths used to receive certain video information may be different from those used to receive racing data. For example, user television equipment22may receive racing videos using path44f, but may receive racing data using path44i. These examples are merely illustrative. Any suitable combination of paths may be used to distribute racing data and other information for the interactive wagering service, any suitable combination of paths may be used to receive videos, and any suitable combination of paths may be used to send data to the wagering service.

If desired, the user may interact with the wagering service using more than one platform. For example, the user may place a wager using a cellular telephone while the user is driving home. When the user arrives home, the user may determine the outcome of the wager by watching a video of the race on user television equipment. Later in the day, the user may check the user's account balance using a personal computer. This is merely an illustrative example. The various wagering platforms may be used in any suitable combination.

Although system10has been described in the context of a system that supports multiple wagering platforms, system10may support fewer platforms if desired. For example, aspects of the invention may be implemented using a system10that only supports cellular telephone wagering or wagering using handheld computer devices. If desired, system10may be configured so that it does not support personal computer wagering, wagering with standard telephones, or wagering with user television equipment. The system may support cellular telephones and/or handheld computing devices such as personal digital assistants, palm-sized computers, etc. in combination with any other suitable platform.

The automatic horse selection features of the present invention are described herein primarily in the context of an interactive wagering application implemented on user computer equipment such as a personal computer. This is only illustrative. An interactive wagering application implemented on any suitable platform (user television equipment, user telephone equipment, etc.) may be used to provide such features if desired. In set-top box arrangements, on-screen options may be made larger than they appear in computer-based arrangements to accommodate the greater viewing distance from which televisions are typically operated. Options may be selected by highlighting them using remote control arrow keys and by pressing an appropriate key such as an OK or enter or select key. In cellular telephone arrangements and handheld computer arrangements, options and information may be displayed using smaller screens than are typically available on personal computer or set-top box arrangements. To accommodate the smaller screen size, options that might otherwise be presented on a single screen may be displayed using multiple screens or layered menus. Options may be selected by highlighting them using navigation keys and pressing an appropriate select button on the cellular telephone or handheld computing device or by using a pen-based interface or the like.

The interactive wagering application may be implemented using application software that runs primarily on user television equipment, user computer equipment, user telephone equipment, or another local platform, or using a remote server or other computer that is accessed from the local platform. Arrangements in which interactive wagering services are implemented using software on remote computers that is accessed on-demand from local platforms may be referred to as client-server arrangements. Such client-server arrangements may be used to allow client processes set-top boxes or other platforms to access server processes running on servers located at cable system headends or other television distribution facilities18(FIG. 1). Regardless of the type of system architecture or platform used, the software that supports the interactive wagering service features described herein may be referred to as an interactive wagering application.

In a set-top box environment, the system may allow the user to launch the application by pressing a menu option in an interactive television program guide or other set-top box application or menu. If desired, the application may be launched automatically whenever the user tunes to a particular channel (e.g., the television wagering channel). After the user has tuned to this channel, the system may display an interactive icon on the user's television screen that indicates that the interactive wagering application is available. If the user presses an “OK” remote control key, the system may launch the application.

In a computer-based system, the user may access the interactive wagering application by browsing to an Internet web site or a site on a private network.

Systems based on cellular telephones or the like may be launched by selecting an appropriate on-screen menu option presented on the display of the cellular telephone.

An illustrative display screen46that may be provided by the interactive wagering application is shown inFIG. 2. Screen46and the screens shown inFIGS. 3-7are examples of screens that may be displayed on a personal computer or other user computer equipment20. The format and contents of such screens may be modified to accommodate different platforms such as user television equipment and user telephone equipment platforms if desired. Moreover, the information and options of the screens ofFIGS. 2-7may be provided using audio prompts to accommodate telephone-based wagering from touch-tone telephones without display screens.

As shown inFIG. 2, screen46may include a race ticket region48in which information about the wager that the user is currently building may be displayed. A list50of tracks may be provided from which the user may select a desired racetrack for which to place a wager. For example, the user may click on a track name of interest by using a mouse, trackball, or other pointing device to move pointer52on top of the desired name in list50.

Track status information54may be provided for each track. For example, information may be provided on whether the track is open or closed.

If desired, information56may be provided that indicates the current race at each track. Post time information58may be provided for races that are still open.

After the user of the interactive wagering application selects a desired racetrack from screen46, the application may display a race selection screen such as screen60ofFIG. 3. As shown inFIG. 3, screen60may contain track information62in the race ticket region48. Track information62shows the user which racetrack was selected using screen46.

A list64of available races at the selected track may be displayed. The user may select a desired race from list64by clicking on the name for the race.

Race status information66my indicate which races are open and which races are closed.

Post time information68may indicate the post times for each race.

The user may return to track selection screen46ofFIG. 2to select a different track by selecting track option70.

On screen60and the other screens ofFIGS. 2-7, tabs72may be used to indicate the user's present location within the interactive wagering application. The user may select from proBet (a streamlined wagering interface for experienced users), easyBet (a more full-featured interface for novice users), Handicap (features that allow the user to obtain handicapping information), Track Info (information on various racetracks), Player Info (features that support wagering by multiple users), Setup (for setting up various settings of the interactive wagering application), and Help (context-sensitive help information).

A bar74or other suitable region may be displayed below tabs72(or in any other suitable location) that indicates the user's location within the wager creation process. The user's current location (e.g., the race selection menu of screen60) may be indicated by coloring the appropriate word e.g., the word “race” in the example ofFIG. 3).

After the user has selected a desired race at the selected racetrack, the user may be presented with a screen such as screen76ofFIG. 4. Screen76may allow the user to select a wager type for the wager. On screen76, race ticket region48may be updated to include information78on which race was selected on screen60. In the example ofFIG. 4, the information78reflects that the selected race is race No. 7.

If desired, a default wager type may be highlighted on screen76. In the example ofFIG. 4, option80for a win wager has been highlighted. If the user wishes to place a win wager, the user may proceed to the horse selection menu by selecting horse option82. If the user would like to place a different type of wager (e.g., a place wager, a show wager, etc.), the user may select one of the other wager type options84by clicking on that option. Information86may be provided in race ticket region48that indicates the highlighted wager type.

The user may return to race selection screen60by selecting option88.

After the has selected a desired wager type (e.g., a win wager in the example ofFIG. 4), the interactive wagering application may present a horse selection screen to the user such as horse selection screen90ofFIG. 5. Information86may be included in race ticket region48to indicate which wager type has been selected.

If desired, the user may select one or more horses for the wager by clicking on the appropriate horse options92.

The interactive wagering application may provide an option such as E-Z pick option94that allows the user to direct the interactive wagering application to automatically pick the user's horses without intervention by the user. The option may be provided as a single clickable button such as option94or may be provided by multiple buttons. If desired, the option may be provided on a different screen than horse selection screen90.

Regardless of how the automatic horse selection option is provided, the user may select the option when the user does not wish to manually select horses. When the user selects the automatic horse selection option, the interactive wagering application may automatically and randomly generate one or more horses to use for the user's wager. For example, if the user is placing a win wager, the interactive wagering application may pick a single horse for the win wager when the user selects option94. If the user is placing an exacta wager, the interactive wagering application may automatically and randomly select two horses (a first place finisher and a second place finisher) for the exacta wager.

Because the user does not need to decide which particular horses to wager on, this feature may be attractive for novice users who are not familiar with the various horses who are running in a race. The feature may also be attractive to more experienced wagerers who occasionally would like to make a random selection (either as a stand-alone wager or as part of a group of wagers).

After the interactive wagering application has randomly selected a horse for the wager, the user may modify this selection by adding other horses or deselecting some or all of the randomly-selected horses.

If desired, a graphic image96may be provided to accompany the random selection of the horses. The graphic images may be related to the horses that are selected. For example, the graphic images may include the horse numbers that are selected. The graphic images may include animation. For example, an animated spinning wheel or the like may be provided that stops on the randomly-selected horse numbers. This is merely an illustrative example. Any suitable graphic images may be provided.

Moreover, other criteria for the wager may be selected randomly if desired. For example, the interactive wagering application may randomly select a racetrack, may randomly select a race, may randomly select a wager type, may randomly select a wager amount, etc. If desired, one, two, three, or any other suitable number of these multiple criteria may be randomly selected. For example, the interactive wagering application may provide an option that automatically randomly creates entire wagers for the user. When the user selects the option, a race ticket region may be provided in which all of the randomly-selected components of a complete wager are listed. The user may then decide whether or not to place the wager.

In the example ofFIG. 5, the user may return to wager type selection screen76by selecting option98. The user may advance towards completing the wager by selecting amount option100.

If the user selects amount option100ofFIG. 5, the user may be presented with a screen such as amount selection screen102ofFIG. 6. In amount selection screen102, race ticket region48may include information104on the selected horse or horses. In the example ofFIG. 6, information104reflects that the interactive wagering application randomly selected horse number2for the user's win wager when the user selected E-Z pick option94.

Race ticket region48inFIG. 6also contains information106that reflects the default highlighted wager amount. Information107reflects the total cost of the wager, which may differ from the cost represented by information106when, for example, multiple horses have been selected for a wager that requires only one horse.

In the example ofFIG. 6, $2 option108is highlighted by default and information106reflects this amount. The $2 amount is merely illustrative. Any suitable amount may be selected as a default. Moreover, no default amount need be selected. The user may be required to select a wager amount. If desired, the wager amount may be selected as a default only if some part of the wager is being generated randomly. Because this feature may be used by novices, it may be desirable for the default amount to be set at $2.

If the user desires to change the default amount to another amount (even if the horses or other aspects of the wager have been selected randomly), the user may select one of the other wager amount options110.

Option112may be provided to allow the user to return to horse selection screen90.

When the user is ready to place the wager, the user may select bet queue option114.

When the user selects bet queue option114, the interactive wagering application may present a screen such as wager list screen116ofFIG. 7. Screen116may contain information118on the selected track for the wager, information120on the selected race number for the wager, and information122on the selected wager amount for the wager. Information124may also be included on the selected wager type for the wager. Information126may be presented on which horses have been selected for the wager. If the race involves runners other than horses (e.g., dogs, etc.), the numbers for those runners may be presented instead of horse numbers.

Information128on the cost of each wager may be presented in a column. The total cost130of all of the wagers added together may also be presented.

Option131may be provided to allow the user to delete wagers from the list of screen116. Duplicate option132may allow the user to duplicate a wager.

The interactive wagering application may support multiple users. For example, multiple users in a home may access the interactive wagering application through a common personal computer. Personal identification numbers (PINs) may be created for each user. When the user enters a PIN when signing into the system, the interactive wagering application may look up the user's name and may display the user's name in region134.

Amount option136may be used to return wager amount screen102ofFIG. 6.

When the user is satisfied with the wagers listed in screen116, the user may select send in saved wagers option138. This submits the wagers from the user's device (e.g., user computer equipment20, etc.) to transaction processing and subscription management system24ofFIG. 1. Transaction processing and subscription management system24may then process the wager and credit or debit the user's account according to the results of the race.

Illustrative steps involved in allowing the user to use the interactive wagering application to wager with randomly-generated horse numbers are shown inFIG. 8. At step140, the interactive wagering application may provide the user with an opportunity to select a track. For example, a user at user computer equipment20may be provided with a screen containing on-screen options that the user may select to choose a desired track. A user at user television equipment22or user telephone equipment32having a display may also be provided with an opportunity to select a desired track using on-screen options or the like. A user at user telephone equipment32without (or with) a display may be presented with audio prompts to which the user may respond by pressing appropriate touch-tone keys to select a desired track.

At step142, the interactive wagering application may provide the user with an opportunity to select a race at the selected track. For example, a user at user computer equipment20may be provided with a screen containing on-screen options that the user may select to choose a desired race. A user at user television equipment22or user telephone equipment32having a display may also be provided with an opportunity to select a desired race using on-screen options or the like. A user at user telephone equipment32without (or with) a display may be presented with audio prompts to which the user may respond by pressing appropriate touch-tone keys to select a desired race.

At step144, the interactive wagering application may provide the user with an opportunity to select a desired wager type. For example, a user at user computer equipment20may be provided with a screen containing on-screen options that the user may select to choose a desired wager type. A user at user television equipment22or user telephone equipment32having a display may also be provided with an opportunity to select a desired wager type using on-screen options or the like. A user at user telephone equipment32without (or with) a display may be presented with audio prompts to which the user may respond by pressing appropriate touch-tone keys to select a desired wager type.

The wager amount selection process may be performed before or after the horses for the wager are selected or at any other suitable time. For example, the wager amount selection process may take place just before the horses have been selected.

With this type of arrangement, the interactive wagering application may provide the user with an opportunity to select a desired wager amount at step146. For example, a user at user computer equipment20may be provided with a screen containing on-screen options that the user may select to choose a desired wager amount. A user at user television equipment22or user telephone equipment32having a display may also be provided with an opportunity to select a desired wager amount using on-screen options or the like. A user at user telephone equipment32without (or with) a display may be presented with audio prompts to which the user may respond by pressing appropriate touch-tone keys to select a desired wager amount.

The interactive wagering application may provide the user with an opportunity to select desired horses for the wager at step148. For example, a user at user computer equipment20may be provided with a screen containing on-screen options that the user may select to choose certain desired horses manually. The screen may also contain an option such as E-Z pick option94ofFIG. 5in addition to or instead of the manual horse selection options. A user at user television equipment22or user telephone equipment32having a display may also be provided with a screen containing on-screen options that the user may select to choose certain desired horses manually. The screen provided with user television equipment22or user telephone equipment32may also contain an option such as E-Z pick option94ofFIG. 5in addition to or instead of the manual horse selection options. A user at user telephone equipment32without (or with) a display may be presented with audio prompts to which the user may respond by pressing appropriate touch-tone keys to select horses either manually or automatically (using the randomly-generated selections of the interactive wagering application).

If, at step148, the user opts to have the interactive wagering application randomly select the horses for the user, the interactive wagering application may perform this function at step150. Numbers may be randomly selected using a random number generation application at transaction processing and subscription management system24(e.g., on computer equipment26), or on user television equipment22, user computer equipment20, or user telephone equipment32, or at television distribution facilities18, or any other suitable location or platform.

After the user selects the horses manually or the interactive wagering application selects the horses automatically, the user may be provided with an opportunity to submit the wager to transaction processing and subscription management system24at step152. For example, a user at user computer equipment20may be provided with a screen containing an on-screen option that the user may select when the user desires to submit the wager. A user at user television equipment22or user telephone equipment32having a display may also be provided with an opportunity to submit a wager using an on-screen option or the like. A user at user telephone equipment32without (or with) a display may be presented with audio prompts to which the user may respond by pressing appropriate touch-tone keys to submit a desired wager.

After the user has submitted the wager at step152, the wager may be processed by transaction processing and subscription management system24(FIG. 1) at step154.

If desired, the randomly-generated horse number feature of the present invention may be used with other types of racing, such as dog or harness racing (a type of horse racing). An E-Z pick option may be provided for supporting these types of wagering. When the user selects the E-Z pick option, the interactive wagering application randomly picks the numbers of the appropriate runners (e.g., dogs or harness racers, etc.).