Patent Publication Number: US-2012040742-A1

Title: System For Providing Simulated Betting And Kiosk For Same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application claims priority of provisional application 61/273,897 filed on Aug. 11, 2009. The entire contents of provisional application 61/273,897 are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a system for simulating betting on a sporting event, which may be a real sporting event or a simulated sporting event created by the system. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of one version of a system according to the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an example main control screen flow chart. 
         FIG. 3  is an example main control tabs flow chart. 
         FIG. 4  is an example theme management tab flow chart. 
         FIG. 5  is an example event management screen flow chart. 
         FIG. 6  is an example additional options and settings flow chart. 
         FIG. 7  is an example better adding flow chart. 
         FIG. 8  is an example better lookup flow chart. 
         FIG. 9  is an example team play and new teams flow chart. 
         FIG. 10  is an example import/export function flow chart. 
         FIG. 11  is an example reset bets, banks, and users flow chart. 
         FIG. 12   b  is an example betting kiosk application flow chart. 
         FIG. 13  is an example extended desktop application flow chart. 
         FIG. 14  is an example screen shot of the main control application. 
         FIG. 15  is an example better screen shot from the main control application. 
         FIG. 16  is an example manage themes screen shot from the main control application. 
         FIG. 17  is an example screen shot of an image management screen from the main control application. 
         FIG. 18  is an example screen shot of a theme management screen from the main control application. 
         FIG. 19  is an example screen shot of a group management screen from the main control application. 
         FIG. 20  is an example screen shop of a group addition screen from the main control application. 
         FIG. 21  is is an example screen shot of a group management screen from the main control application. 
         FIG. 22  is an example screen shot of an additional options screen from the main control application. 
         FIG. 23  is an example add/edit betters screen shot from the main control application. 
         FIG. 24  is an example better lookup screen shot from the main control application. 
         FIG. 25  is an example bet listing by bettor screen shot from the main control application. 
         FIG. 26  is an example manage teams screen shot from the main control application. 
         FIG. 27  is an example begin transaction/bet screen from a betting kiosk display. 
         FIG. 28  is an example betting selection/placement screen from a betting kiosk display. 
         FIG. 29  is an example betting placement details screen from a betting kiosk display. 
         FIG. 30  is an example betting confirmation screen from a betting kiosk display. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The components may include a main control application having, at least one database, with an operator interface control application in communication with each database; and further having at least one betting kiosk located in at least one venue, each kiosk having, at least one display associated with at least one data input device in communication with the main control, whereby at least one better can place a simulated bet at a kiosk on a sporting event then the main control application tabulates the simulated betting results. The input devices may be a card reader, whereby a person who desires to use the system can initiate a log in session by causing a card to be read. Among other mechanisms for allowing communication of the card, the card could be magnetic, via a bar code, or it may communicate by electromagnetic waves. 
     The invention includes a method for providing simulated betting on a sporting event comprising: providing a main control application with at least one database and an operator interface control application in communication with each database; providing at least one betting kiosk with a kiosk application in communication with the main control application and at least one display associated with at least one data input device. Another variation of the invention is an apparatus for providing a simulated betting on sports comprising: a main control application in communication with at least one database; at least one operator interface adapted to direct the control application; and at least one betting kiosk with a display and at least one data input device in communication with the main control application; whereby an operator can set up betting parameters on a sporting event and users can place simulated wagers at betting kiosks after which the main control application tabulates the wagering results. The invention includes a betting kiosk comprising: a display and at least one data input device in communication with the kiosk; a main control application in communication with the kiosk adapted to maintain and provide to the kiosk information from at least one database controlled by at least one operator interface, whereby, participants can place simulated bets at the kiosk on the a sporting event after which the main control application tabulates the wagering results. 
     Simulated betting may take place on either a live sporting event (such as a professional basketball game), or it may be based on a simulated sporting event staged by the main control application. Theoretically, betting could occur based on a pre-recorded sporting event (rather than a live or simulated event), but that would give sports fans who are familiar with the recorded event&#39;s outcome an advantage over betters who are unfamiliar with the event. It is easier to make good bets when you already know the outcome. Therefore, the use of pre-recorded events is disfavored. Where based on a live event, the relevant information necessary for tabulation of results may be mined by the control application from a streaming source of information from the sporting event, or it may be input manually. Where the data is mined from a streaming source, that streaming souce typically is received into the system through an internet connection. Where the system simulates a sporting event, that event may use historical teams in the particular sport, for example a simulated pro basketball game between the Michael Jordan era Chicago Bulls® and Kobe Bryant era Los Angeles Lakers®. 
     The main control application may be in communication with at least two kiosks in at least two different venues, whereby betters at each venue can compete against each other and collectively, betters at each venue can compete against betters at another venue. At each venue—such as a bar or conference room—there may be multiple kiosks and, if so, betters at that venue can bet against one another and see the results of their wagers at that venue. The patrons in a first venue could compete against the patrons in a second venue, and these competitions may include a traditional rivalry element such as New York Yankee® fans who are patrons in a New York City bar competing against Boston Redsox® fans in a Boston bar. Alternatively, corporate employees at a first corporate location could compete against a second group of employees at another location in a team building event atmosphere. A large chain of bars or restaurants such as Buffalo Wild Wings® could undertake a national competition among its multiple locations with the betters/patrons at the winning location receiving some reward as a result of the competition. 
     There is no limit to the sporting events upon which simulated betting could be based. Likely candidates include college or pro football games; college basketball games; college or pro pro basketball games; college or pro baseball games; college or pro hockey games, college, pro or World Cup soccer games; an animal race, including but not limited to horses, dogs or even amardillos; motor vehicle races, including but not limited to car or boat races; the X-Games; an Olympic sporting event; a boxing match; an Ultimate Fighting Championship match; or a tournament associated with any of the foregoing sports. The “game” may either be a live sporting event or an event simulated by the sytem. Simulated events are conveninent because the meeting does not have to be set at the time when a real event is taking place. A simulated event may be purely generated by the main control application as a theoretical output, or it may have associated with it video components that may be displayed on at least one screen at the each venue. Generically, the system may use statistics associated with any ongoing event as a basis for simulated betting. 
     A wide variety of types of simulated bets may be available including, but not limited to the winner of the event; the score differential; the first to achieve some objective; the total points scored; the score during any period of the event; the score at one or more milestones during the event; statistics of a particular player in the event; or some combined outcome of more than one event. For example, bets associated with the outcome of multiple independent games are often referred to as “parlays.” Applicant incorporates by reference the types of bets described in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_betting. In addition, simulated bets may relate to cumulative results over a series of games such as a tournament, or even over an entire season. Betters can compete head-to-head, as teams at a venue or among venues, or as a venue team against other venues. Corporations or other organizations can offer rewards to betters to encourage participation in the system and foster excitement. 
     Where competitions take place over an extended period of time (rather than being tied to a single event), a web site may be provided that allows betters to view their standings in the competition or other statistics associated with their performance during the competition. Alternatively, those standings or other statistics may be communicated to betters by email, text message or other communication means. The more urgent of these methods (e.g., email and text messages) may be used for delivery of results to betters during or shortly after a short-term event as well. 
     The system may have a wide variety of databases including, but not limited to the following types: control, containing information concerning the overall operation of the system; betters, including information related to individuals using the system; groups, including information related to groups of games such as the live sporting events on display at a particular venue; events/games, including information on events upon which betters may be able to place simulated bets; and an items database, including information on bets available for or made on an event; teams, containing information on betters grouped into teams for an event or a season; themes, containing information for each theme available, which themes may be grouped by sport; data extended, containing information to currently be displayed on a extended desktop results screen; data extended main, containing data brought into the system from external sources for the games presented in the main control panel; and finally, game request, containing information relating to games for which the system needs information such as the game number, sport type, and team name. To control the system, the main control may have a variety of “tabs” or groupings of control-type applications, including, but not limited to: betters, adapted to control and input information related to the betters database; themes, adapted to control the appearance of display screens; events, adapted to control and input information related to the events database; additional options, adapted to control optional elements of the system; and event, adapted to control and input information related to an event. The system may have a teams database, whereby groups of betters at a particular venue can be organized into teams to compete against each other at that venue on at least one event or it may include the option of organizing betters in at least two venues into teams to compete against each other. The main application may maintain results for a set of sporting events adapted to allow teams to compete over a period of time (for example over the National Football League® season) with results for at least two sporting events determining the winner among teams. The databases are generally maintained on a server associated with the main control application. The server and the main control application may be running on the same computer, or the software underlying the main control application may be located on a first computer with the server containing the databases in communication with the first computer via the Internet or via another communications network (for example, a cellular telephone network). 
     Advertising may be served up to one or more of the screens in communication with the system. The main control may have a means for pushing advertising to a venue to be shown on at least one display screen. Advertising content may be matched to the expected interests of betters expected to view the advertising. Betters viewing the Kentucky Derby® may be expected to have differing tastes and demographic characteristics, on average, from betters viewing a Ultimate Fighting Championship® match. Ads served to these different audiences can be fine-tuned to more closely match their likely purchasing preferences. Ads may be served to either the generalized screens displaying events and/or results in a particular venue, or the may be served to the screens at a betting kiosk. If served to the generalized display screens at the venue, the ads may be tailored to the expected demographics of persons at that venue. If served to the kiosk display, the aforementioned type of targeting of advertisements to the expected general demographics of the venue may be used, or, if more specific information is available in the system for the particular better, advertisements specific to their demographics may be served. 
     The operation of the system will be described with respect to an exemplary use of the system at an event where the “sport” is simulated horse racing. Betters may receive a daily racing form and a custom betting card with their name programmed and printed on the card. To place a wager guest swipe their betting card at touch screen computer kiosk. They are able to pick which horse, how much to wager and whether their horse will “win,” “place” or “show.” The races are shown on the big screens and or plasmas around the event every 10-20 minutes. A typical event will feature between 8-12 races, but may vary from event to event. 
     Better names are input manually or via magnetic (or bar code) cards and a magnetic card reader. The first screen gives the user the option to choose bank amount or swipe card to begin. If the user chooses Bank amount, then swipes the betting card the software pulls from the data base and shows on the screen or prints to the receipt printer (option set from main control application) the users name and the amount currently in their bank. If the user chooses to place a wager they swipe their card, the software reads their name and pulls from the user data base and the horse race data base. The second screen displays all the horses racing in the upcoming race, and the choice of win, place or show (win, place and show labels can be dynamically changed for other themes). Above the win, place or show the odds of winning are displayed. The user chooses the horse by touching the horse&#39;s name on the screen then chooses win, place or show. The third screen appears showing the users bank amount (pulled from the user data base), there may be several quick bet buttons with different bet amounts (pulled from the horse race data base). The user may place bets up to the total in their bank. The bet amount displays under the current bank amount as the user adds money to their bet. The user then has the option to place their bet or cancel the bet. After placing the bet the bet placed screen appears (or is printed) and the users&#39; data base is updated to reflect the bet. The software then reverts to the first screen to place another bet or for another user. The screen also has a time out function that helps keep the flow of users to a fast pace. 
     If a better does not have an issued card for use in the system, a card kiosk may be provided for issuing such cards. The data needed for the better can be obtained either manually by the better typing it into a touch screen, keyboard or similar device or it may be retrieved from a credit card, driver&#39;s license, or other card carried by the better. If the card is read but is missing information needed to set up a betting account (such as the better&#39;s email address), the card kiosk may prompt the better to enter missing information after mining the available data from the identification card. Once the necessary information is obtained, the card kiosk creates a card and dispenses it to the better. This dispensed card is then used by the better to log into the system to place bets. 
       FIG. 1  is a flow chart for the the main control screen of the software. Live events are run from this screen. The countdown timer until a simulated horse race can be controlled from this screen. This is where races are started and/or reset. When a race starts the software calculates all the betting results, flags the race as run and then displays the results via the extended desktop application at displays at the venue. Betting at a kiosk can also be locked or unlocked from this application. 
     Five control tabs on the main screen are shown in  FIG. 15 . The tabs include at betters tab, a themes tab, an events tab, an additional options tab, and a live event tab (goes back to the main control page). The betters tab allows control of betters list, including but not limited to options to add/edit single betters, look up betters, view/print bets, enable teams, manage teams, import or export betters, to reset a better&#39;s bank, to reset bets, to delete betters, and or to add/edit images. 
     The theme screen allows you to manage, input and switch between themes for an event, such as horse racing, boxing, car racing, or other such themes. The themes page has options to input and select of photos for each display screens background. The images to be selected may include an ntro screen (swipe card) picture on kiosk, a choose horse screen picture on kiosk, a place bet screen picture on kiosk, a show bet placed screen picture on kiosk, and an event result screen on extended desktop. 
     The event theme screen allows for managing which group will be playing. It allows for inputting or deleting existing groups. A group is defined as a list of betters at an event. The events theme page has options to input or choose which races will be run and what order they will take place during the event. This is where all horses, odds and order the horses finish in a race are entered. Themes may be mixed in this set up for a particular event. Races  1 ,  2  and  3  may be horse racing while race  4 ,  5  may be a car race. 
     You can select and set the music that will play between the races. Betting screen time out timer is set here. The countdown timer for the amount of time between races is set in this screen. Example the extended desktop will display 15 minutes, 14 minutes, 13 minutes . . . to next race. The following toggles are also available in this screen: 1. Betting locked or unlocked—opens and closes the betting kiosk; 2. Printing on or off—when printing is on receipts for each bet print at the kiosk. When printing is off the bet place screen shows the better their wager; and 3. Card delimiter on or off—sets the delimiter on the magnetic card reader 
     The Extended desktop application is the third application to make up this software package. Using multithreading technology and running on the Main control computer. This package extends all video output, horse race videos, results of betting and time to next race to the plasmas and big screens at the event.