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Method for conducting challenges in a fantasy simulation

Method for conducting challenges in a fantasy simulation description/claims

Web-based simulations exist for a variety of topics and scenarios. For example, “fantasy” simulations in almost every form of organized athletics are well-known. In a typical fantasy league, participants sign up with a web service and choose a number of players or teams to be included on their fantasy team or league. Once a number of fantasy players have made their choices, the fantasy players are awarded points or other incentives based on the performance of their chosen players or teams in actual contests and compete against other fantasy participants.

A similar “fantasy” concept may be applied to almost any other group of participants wherein reality-based performance statistics are readily accessible and quantifiable. For example, a web site may host a fantasy stock market game or simulation. Fantasy players would choose a number of stocks, commodities, bonds, funds, or any instrument that is traded in a financial market. The players would then be awarded points or other incentives based on the performance of their individual portfolios as compared to other participant's portfolios in the simulation.

Interaction between participants in fantasy games or simulations is limited to reality-based events or transactions. For example, in sports fantasy leagues, fantasy players may consummate transactions that mirror the ability of managers and players to move to other teams or perform other reality-based bargains. Limiting fantasy players to reality-based transactions may provide a realistic simulation experience, but may restrict the fantasy players' options for interaction among other players or other leagues.

In a fantasy game or simulation, a method allows fantasy players to issue challenges to other fantasy players. One fantasy player may propose that his reality-based selections will outperform a second player's portfolio. If the second player accepts the challenge, then a negotiated performance indicator common to both portfolios may be monitored for a period of time. At the end of the period, the winner of the challenge may be determined based on the change of the performance indicator.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a data network;

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a computing device; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for conducting challenges between participants in an on-line fantasy game.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a data network 100 including a first group of network computers 105 operatively coupled to a web host 110 via a network 115. The plurality of computers 105 may be located, by way of example rather than limitation, in separate geographic locations from each other, in different areas of the same city, or in different states. The network 115 may be provided using a wide variety of techniques for the transfer of electronic data as well known to those skilled in the art. For example, the network 115 may comprise dedicated access lines, plain ordinary telephone lines, satellite links, combinations of these, etc. Additionally, the network 115 may include a plurality of network computers or server computers (not shown), each of which may be operatively interconnected in a known manner. Where the network 115 comprises the Internet, data communication may take place over the network 115 via an Internet communication protocol.

The web host 110 may be a server computer of the type commonly employed in networking solutions. The web host 110 may be used to accumulate, analyze, and download user data. For example, the web host 110 may periodically receive data from each of the network computers 105 indicative of information pertaining to a user profile, a user choice or transaction regarding a fantasy game or account, a desired course of action, or any other data that may be transferred from a fantasy game player to other players or to the web host 110. The web host 110 may also be a personal computer at which a user may access and view information served from other network computers or servers. For example, the network computers 105 may include one or more servers that may be utilized to store information for a plurality of users.

Although the data network 100 is shown to include one web host 110 and three network computers 105, it should be understood that different numbers of computers and hosts may be utilized. For example, the network 100 may include a plurality of web hosts 110 and dozens of network computers 105, all of which may be interconnected via the network 115. According to the disclosed example, this configuration may provide several advantages, such as, for example, enabling real time uploads and downloads of information as well as periodic uploads and downloads of information. This provides for a primary backup of all the information generated in the process of updating and accumulating user data.

The web host 110 may be connected to a network, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), portions of the Internet such as a private Internet, a secure Internet, a value-added network, or a virtual private network. Suitable web hosts 110 may also include personal computers, laptops, workstations, disconnectable mobile computers, mainframes, information appliances, personal digital assistants, and other handheld and/or embedded processing systems. The signal lines that support communications links to a host 110 may include twisted pair, coaxial, or optical fiber cables, telephone lines, satellites, microwave relays, modulated AC power lines, and other data transmission “wires” known to those of skill in the art. Further, signals may be transferred wirelessly through a wireless network or wireless LAN (WLAN) using any suitable wireless transmission protocol, such as the IEEE series of 802.11 standards. Although particular individual and network computer systems and components are shown, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the present invention also works with a variety of other networks and computers.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one possible embodiment of the web host 110 shown in FIG. 1. The host 110 may have a controller 200 that is operatively connected to a database 205 via a link 210. It should be noted that, while not shown, additional databases may be linked to the controller 200 in a known manner.

The controller 200 may include a program memory 215, a microcontroller or a microprocessor (MP) 220, a random-access memory (RAM) 225, and an input/output (I/O) circuit 230, all of which may be interconnected via an address/data bus 235. It should be appreciated that although only one microprocessor 220 is shown, the controller 200 may include multiple microprocessors 220. Similarly, the memory of the controller 200 may include multiple RAMs 225 and multiple program memories 215. Although the I/O circuit 230 is shown as a single block, it should be appreciated that the I/O circuit 230 may include a number of different types of I/O circuits. The RAM(s) 225 and program memories, 215 may be implemented as semiconductor memories, magnetically readable memories, and/or optically readable memories, for example.

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