U.S. Pat. No. 9,361,762

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a detailed description of presently known exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention can, may, or could be constructed and/or utilized. The detailed description sets forth the functions and the sequence of the steps for constructing and operating the disclosure in connection with the illustrated embodiments as well as the best mode of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences can be accomplished by different exemplary embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of this invention.

The present system and method provides an online video gaming tournament. The present system and method utilizing the hundreds and thousands or even millions of existing multi-player garners and creates tournaments around them where not only are the players competing indirectly against other players in other regions and countries, but the players can also directly compete against other players while in the same game server on opposite teams or even on the same team. Players may not get eliminated from a tournament and continue to play until the tournament expires. The present system and method may provide two types of tournaments, non-entry-fee tournaments and entry-fee tournaments. Sometimes a subscriber service offers free tournaments that are put on by a particular subscriber service. These, too, are covered within the spirit and scope of the invention. It should be understood that where an entry-fee is paid for a tournament (whether the tournament is hosted on a game server2or a third-party subscriber server20), the entry-fee may be paid by a participant or the entry-fee may be supplied or subsidized by a sponsor—both of which are covered within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Referring toFIG. 1, the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the system, is illustrated in schematic and generally denoted by the numeral100. The system100includes a plurality of game servers2. The servers2are divided based upon certain criteria. As shown inFIG. 1, the servers2may be divided based on geographic location/region. However, other criteria are possible and such is not meant as limiting the disclosure of the invention in any way. The system100includes both regional contestants1who may wish to play in a regional online gaining tournament as well as global contestants3who may wish to play in a global online gaming tournament. The system100may allow regional contestants1and global contestants3to have the option to enter both global and regional online gaming Tournaments. Alternatively, within the spirit and scope of the invention, the system100may only include regional or exclusively include global tournaments. There may even be servers dedicated to particular game manufacturers or a particular category of games. In system100, the tournaments are played on the same game servers2, at the same time, but displayed on separate grids as will be more fully appreciated below. Thus, players can join a server2in Atlanta and participate in a global and regional online gaming tournament because a player's performance statistics can be used in each online gaming tournament individually. In the system100, a contestants' performance statistics is calculated and compared against the other online gaming tournament contestants1or3and that calculation may be used to determine the player's grid ranking and their prize winnings.

The system100, in the exemplary embodiment shown, uses servers2which are public servers. By having public gaming servers, the system100allows contestants1or3of the online gaming tournaments to play with non-tournament participants. This allows online gaming tournament contestants1or3to earn game statistics regardless of the amount of actual tournament participants. The use of public servers in the exemplary embodiment is not meant to be limiting of the invention. Within the spirit and scope of the invention, the system100uses private servers, semi-private servers and any other possible server, presently known or to be invented and discovered that would accomplish the purposes herein.

Referring now toFIG. 2, a global tournament is described in detail. For a global tournament, global contestants3are able to access one or more gaming servers2. In the exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the gaming servers2are coupled to an application programming interface (API)4. The API4is used to calculate statistics related to the game being played on the servers2. Global tournaments include gathering performance statistics for the global contestant3from all the game servers2around the world, from a given game and game type, and compiling them into a single ranking system determined by the API4to be displayed on the grid. For example, Player “A” located in Los Angeles, Calif., USA can indirectly compete against Player “B” located in London, England, UK without directly playing against one another.

In a Global tournament, the global contestants3generally pay an entry-fee. As shown in the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 2, the entry fee is taken from a player's bank account5. The player's bank account5includes any type of account set-up by the player, be it real, brick and mortar store or virtual. The player's bank account5does not have to be an actual bank account but may be an online gaming account, virtual game account, a Paypal account, or the like. Once an entry fee has been paid from the player's bank account5, the global contestants3may be directed to an official server list of games on the game servers2located around the world.

The global contestants3may then play on one or multiple official game servers2to obtain performance statistics. Those statistics may be calculated by the API4and that may be used to determine a global contestants3ranking and consequently their winnings. Once determined, the API4may transfer the winnings to the player's bank account5of the global contestants3.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, a regional tournament will be described in more detail. For a regional tournament, regional contestants1access one or more regional gaming servers6. The regional tournament consists of gathering performance statistics from specific regional game servers6in a given geographical location, such as United States West, specific states in the United States, or United Kingdom and compiling them via the API4into a single ranking system to be displayed on the Grid. Player “A” located in Los Angeles, Calif., USA can indirectly or directly compete with another player in the same region, such as Seattle, Wash., USA.

In a regional tournament, a regional contestant1may be required to pay an entry-fee. The entry fee may be taken from a player's bank account5. The player's bank account5may be any type of account set-up by the regional contestants1. The player's bank account5does not have to be an actual bank account but may be an online gaining account, virtual game account, a Paypal account, or the like. Once an entry fee has been paid from the player's bank account5, the regional contestants1may be directed to an official server list on the regional game servers6located within a specific region. In this example, this regional online gaming tournament is taking place across Central United States. The player may then play in one or multiple official regional game servers6within a region to obtain performance statistics. Those statistics may be calculated and compared against other regional contestants1through the API4and may be used to determine a regional contestants1ranking and consequently their winnings. Once determined, the API4may transfer the winnings to the player's bank account5.

For a paid regional tournament or a paid global tournament, all contestants1or3pay an entry fee to enter a tournament. After paying the entry-fee, the contestants1or3are presented with an official server list in which those players play in order to qualify for the tournament and become eligible for rewards. The entry fees are used to establish a tournament pool in one exemplary embodiment. A percentage of the money from entry-fees may be collected and distributed from and to players. Once the tournament has expired, the contestants1or3may receive their winnings based on their statistical game performance. All funds may be distributed and contained within a player's bank account5until the contestants1or3submit a withdrawal request.

Referring now toFIG. 4, description of one embodiment of a tournament pay table will be disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, approximately sixty percent of all tournament players may receive winnings with an approximate eighty-five to ninety-five percent game return. There may be a range of consolation groups from one to one hundred that may be paid out. Each consolation group may be populated by a percentage of the winning players.

As may be seen in the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, Consolation Group One7A may contain the top one percent of all paid contestants1or3participating in a tournament (i.e., paid regional tournament or a paid global tournament) and may split eight percent (8%) of the Tournament Pool; Consolation Group Two7B may contain the next top two percent of all paid contestants1or3participating in the paid tournament (i.e., paid regional tournament or a paid global tournament) and may split eleven percent (11%) of the Tournament Pool; Consolation Group Three7C may contain the next top six percent of all paid contestants1or3participating in the paid tournament (i.e., paid regional tournament or a paid global tournament) and may split thirteen and one-half percent (13.5%) of the Tournament Pool; Consolation Group Four7D may contain the next top eleven percent of all paid contestants1or3participating in the paid tournament (i.e., paid regional tournament or a paid global tournament) and may split nineteen percent (19%) of the Tournament Pool; Consolation Group Five7E may contain the next top forty percent of all paid contestants1or3participating in the paid tournament (i.e., paid regional tournament or a paid global tournament) and may split forty-four percent (44%) of the Tournament Pool. This embodiment is not meant to be limiting, it's merely descriptive of one embodiment. There could of course be more or less than five groups, different monetary percentages for each group and different percentages for the number of players being paid in each group without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The system100allows progressive jackpots. Progressive jackpots in the gambling industry are generally based on a predetermined winning combination(s) that is generally difficult to obtain and all having an element of chance. In video game tournaments, chance is not allowed or it may be considered to be gambling which is currently illegal in all jurisdictions in the United States and most Countries. These tournaments (i.e., paid regional tournament or a paid global tournament) are generally based entirely on skill based achievements. The progressive jackpots are also be based on skill based achievements or combinations of skill sets or sequential skills or skill sets. For example, being the first person to win a predetermined winning combination(s) of skill based achievements could be a first progressive jackpot based on non-gambling scenarios. The above is given as an example and should not be seen in a limiting manner.

Referring now toFIG. 5, there is shown a block diagram schematic illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the tournament pool9distribution. In this embodiment, the contestants1or3in the paid regional tournament or a paid global tournament pay the entry fee to participate. The entry fee may be placed into a tournament pool9. In this embodiment, a small percent of every tournament pool9is reserved and divided between a plurality of progressive tournament pools9A. In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 5, three progressive tournament pools9A (Primary Pool11, Secondary Pool12and Tertiary Pool13) are visible and obtainable by tournament players and there are hidden tournament pools10, which are created to replenish the Primary Pool11once it has been paid out or hit. A percentage of the Primary Pool11may be reserved for the Secondary Pool12and the Tertiary Pool13. The above is only shown as an exemplary embodiment. There may be more or less Progressive Tournament pools9A as well as different means for allocating distribution of the rewards without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the Secondary Pool12and Tertiary Pool13pools may have Hidden Pools10.

Progressive tournament pools9A may be won in different manners. For example, to win the Tertiary Pool13, a paid player: Places third or better four times in the same game and tournament type. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the Secondary Pool12may be awarded after the Tertiary Pool13has been won. Once the Tertiary Pool13has been won, to win for the Secondary Pool12, a paid player may have to: Place in second or better three times in the same game and tournament type. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, once the Tertiary Pool13and Secondary Pool12have been won, to qualify for the Primary Pool11a contestant may have to: Place in first two times in the same type of tournament for the same game. The above are only given as examples and should not be seen in a limiting manner.

Referring toFIG. 6, there is shown an exemplary embodiment of the tournament pool distribution. InFIG. 6, a Contestant “A”14from one of the paid regional tournaments or paid global tournaments wins the Tertiary Pool13. Then Contestant “B”15may win the Secondary Pool12, only after the Tertiary Pool13has been hit. Then any contestant can win the Primary Pool11, but only after the Tertiary Pool13and Secondary Pool12have been hit.

In the event that the Primary Pool11is won, Hidden Pools10are allocated. For example, Hidden Pool1, in one exemplary embodiment, is allocated to the Primary Pool11, Hidden Pool2is allocated to Hidden Pool1and Hidden Pool3is depleted to zero. This may be used to help prevent the Primary Pool11from starting at an insignificant dollar amount. This progressive embodiment is not meant to be limiting, it's merely descriptive of one exemplary embodiment. In-Game skills and skill sets could also be used in competing scenarios to form progressive jackpots.

In an exemplary embodiment of the system100, the API4is stored on a server4A within the system100in accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The server4A can take the form of a computer server, and more specifically a web server. The server4A can include ROM, operating system and software instructions, RAM, central processor unit (CPU), network interface to connect the server storing the API4to the gaining servers2and a data storage device. A conventional personal computer or computer workstation with sufficient memory and processing capabilities can be used as the server4A. Alternatively, multiple interconnected servers can also serve as the server.

In another exemplary embodiment using the cube18ofFIG. 9, the API4factors into the ranking, the player's or team's performance in-game and skill ranking differential between the two players (or teams) in determining actual grid movement during and after a match and a player's or team's post-match ranking. Skill ranking and new skills are earned during a match and those skills are updated during the match and reflected in the cube18. Post-match performance algorithms assign a percentage of the losing players skill ranking to the winning player; or declares an in-game performance score multiplier; which effectively transfers skill rating from a losing player to a winning player, or rewards a winning player with additional skill ranking/rating points based on an outcome with a higher-ranked player, in addition to any already calculated performance data from the match game statistics.

Referring now toFIGS. 7-10, there is illustrated an exemplary embodiment of the grid8. In this embodiment, the API4generates a ranking grid8. The grid8is a unique multi-level, multi-tier grid. In accordance with this embodiment, the grid8has 100 positions (10 levels with 10 tiers) player ranking grid per tournament, per game.

The grid8is used for rating and ranking players skill based on live and real-time or past performance within the given game and/or tournament; by means of skill rating algorithms and mathematics that are processed during and after each tournament match. The higher of a players skill, the higher they are visually seen, and programmatically ranked on the grid8(high being towards upper-left, L1T1—Level1, Tier1,16as may be seen inFIG. 7).

The grid8has the ability to function in a dynamic mode, enabling the Level1, Tier1position to have a minimum numerical skill ranking equal to that of the highest ranked player; and then allow for an exponential decrease in minimum/maximums required per each level/tier combination until the bottom (level10, tier10,17) is reached—which in most cases is at 0.

During a tournament, players may join via one of two methods; (1) manually by using a user interface of a website, mobile applications, or other deemed user interface applications, or (2) automatically by having enabled an Auto-Join Feature, which may intelligently join a user to a tournament based on defined and agreed upon criteria once the system detects that the player is playing in a sanctioned tournament server (location).

Players may play throughout the tournament within one or multiple Game Servers2(locations); from this point, the system100may “handshake” with the game server2and pull real-time or near real-time game play performance and commit to the grid8via use of the API4; exposing public-facing methods to allow for on-demand grid calculation algorithmic processing for player performance data obtained within the aforementioned server(s)2.

Once player performance data has been fed from the game server(s)2of the tournament(s), the API4processes gamer performance into numerical rating and ranking “scores” which are then plotted on the appropriate tournament grid(s)8; from this point, once a tournament has expired or otherwise completed based on the allotted play-time, the system100calculates player positions, rewards, and progressive jackpot(s)/tournament pool(s) issuance based on the player rating/ranking as demonstrated per the placement on the actual tournament gaming “grid”8. The grid8has the ultimate responsibility of determining player skill ranking within the game, and determining what player(s) get rewarded, as well as visually showing to players, users, and bystanders the progress and performance of players within.

The system100may operate a unique 100 position (10 levels with 10 tiers) player ranking grid8per tournament, per game. The grid8is responsible for rating and ranking players skill based on live and real-time or past performance within the given game and/or tournament; by means of unique skill rating algorithms and mathematics that are processed during and after each tournament match. The higher of a player skill, the higher they are visually seen, and programmatically ranked on the grid (high being towards upper-left, L1T1—Level1, Tier1,16).

The grid8has the ability to function in a dynamic mode, enabling the Level1, Tier1position16to have a minimum numerical skill ranking equal to that of the highest ranked player; and then allow for an exponential decrease in minimum/maximums required per each level/tier combination until the bottom (level10, tier10,17) is reached—which in most cases is at 0.

Players may play throughout the tournament within one or multiple sanctioned Game Servers2(locations) i.e Game Server2running Game “A” or Game Server2running Game “B”; from this point, the system100may “handshake” with the game servers2and pull real-time or near real-time game play performance and commit to the grid8via use of the API4; exposing public-facing methods to allow for on-demand grid calculation algorithmic processing for player performance data obtained within the aforementioned server(s)2.

Once player performance data has been fed from the game server(s)2of the tournament(s), the system100processes gamer performance into numerical rating and ranking “scores” which may then be plotted on the appropriate tournament grid(s)8i.e Grid for Game “A” or Grid for Game “B”; from this point, once a tournament has expired or otherwise completed based on the allotted play-time, the system100may calculate player positions, rewards, and progressive jackpot(s)/tournament pool(s) issuance based on the player rating/ranking as demonstrated per the placement on the actual tournament gaming grid8. The grid8has the ultimate responsibility of determining player skill ranking within the game, and determining what player(s) get rewarded, as well as visually showing to players, users, and bystanders the progress and performance of players within.

The system100may be expanded to so that the grid technology can incorporate millions of players that will be playing from around the world. The grids8may be configured into a 3-Dimensional Cube18as shown inFIG. 9, which can have a multitude of functions. i.e. player ratings, types of games, amounts of the various progressive prizes or any other functions of the games that need and/or players want displaying. In addition to ranking players, a portion of the 3-Dimensional Cube18, may, in an exemplary embodiment, be dedicated to ranking the game itself, comparing the instant game to other games on the 3-Dimensional Cube18. Since the 3-Dimensional Cube18is capable of serving many games, the various games may be compared to one another and ranked against one another.

As illustrated in exemplary embodiment of the 3-Dimensional Cube18ofFIG. 9, the cube18includes a plurality of stacked grids8. The stacked grids8having a plurality of levels and each level having a plurality of tiers8A

In the exemplary embodiment of the 3-Dimensional Cube18inFIG. 9, the cube18gives the tournament the functionality and the flexibility to allow players of multiple level skills to compete against one another on a generally level playing field. As a player progresses through the game's skill levels and acquires new skills, the player receives increasingly greater challenges. However, as a result of using the ranking functionality of the 3-Dimensional Cube18, players mostly compete against players of equal or lesser skill levels, for example, within 5 to 10 level range based on Cube schema 1 or Cube schema 2.

Cube Schema 1, Functional Description

With particular reference toFIG. 9, there is illustrated an exemplary embodiment of the 3-dimensional cube18. In the embodiment illustrated, the 3-dimensional cube18includes a plurality of stacked grid levels resulting in a minimum and maximum of 10 levels of difference in the player skill during play on that level of the cube section. As the player progresses to the next cube level, 10 in-game experience levels are earned prior to attaining the next cube level. This repeats itself until a player goes as far as possible based upon the player's skill level.

Cube Schema 2 Functional Explanation—

Interlaced and offset cube level layers (FIG. 10) produce a fixed effect for the player as the player enters the next cube level at the middle of the skill levels thus having a + or − 5 level difference in actual skill as the player proceeds through the cube levels. The same format pertains to this cube level as in Schema 2. As the player progresses to the next cube level, 10 in-game experience levels are earned. These levels must be earned prior to attaining the next cube level. This repeats itself until a player goes as far as possible based upon the player's skill level.

Referring now toFIGS. 11-14, another embodiment of the online-gaining tournament system100of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the system100is a adapted to allow garners who are proficient in multiple video games to compete against each other to determine a contestant's1,3(or group of contestants1,3or team of contestants'1,3) overall performance across all of the games so that an overall performance metric may be used in an a large-scale fantasy game. In this embodiment, the system100has the overall ability to take into consideration any single statistical metric or any combination of statistical metrics representing a contestant's1,3, or a group of contestants'1,3or team of contestants'1,3, performance-in-time with the expectation of affecting a unilateral compiled summation of performance metrics representative of the overall performance of the associated contestant1,3or group of contestants1,3or team of contestants'1,3for consideration and utilization in fantasy sports and e-sports. In other words, in this embodiment, the system100may take multiple statistics and metrics of various games such as Counter-Strike, Battlefield, Defense of the Ancients, League of Legends and Team Fortress for a contestant1,3, or group of contestants1,3and process them so that it is able to produce a metric/statistic that represents that contestant's1,3or group's overall performance across all games so that the new overall performance metric can be used in a large-scale fantasy game. In this embodiment, the API4that is stored on the server4A is a two-way (or bidirectional) API4, which may also be referred to hereinafter as an Automatic Duplex Synchronized and Metrics Interface (ADSSMI)4B. In this embodiment, it should be understood that all of the aspects of the system100discussed above (e.g. the dynamic participant ranking grid, skill ranking differential, virtual participant bank accounts, etc.) may be adapted for whether the participant is an individual participant (or contestant1,3); a group of participants (or contestants1,3); or a team of participants (or contestants1,3), as appropriate.

Referring toFIG. 11, the gaining servers2are coupled to one or more ADSSMI(s)4B. The ADSSMI4B receives raw statistical, event, telemetry, and contestant1,3performance data in real-time or pseudo-real-time from one or more applicable electronic video game servers2with the intention of utilizing the data for statistical calculation and fantasy e-sports purposes. The ADSSMI4B also provides an extensibility factor allowing for the processing of the data structures to represent a unified contestant1,3or group rating across multiple video games. The ADSSMI4B is also coupled to one or more third-party subscriber servers20so that the ADSSMI4B may provide an automated two-way communication layer to further disseminate raw statistical data and processed unified rating data to third-party subscribers22.

In this embodiment, the raw statistical data received by the ADSSMI4B from each video game being played on the electronic video game servers2may be used for multiple purposes. The raw aggregated performance statistical data for a specific video game may be displayed on a contestant1,3or team website, dynamic signature image, or other online media. The computed statistical data (i.e. the compiled summation of performance score) encompassing all games for a specific contestant1,3or team may also be displayed on a website, dynamic signature image, or other online media. The raw statistical data and event information for each specific game, the raw aggregated data of all of the games being played, and/or the calculated compiled summation of performance scores over all of the games being played, may be used to determine placement and/or seeding of the contestant1,3or team in a gameplay event, such as a tournament, league, or season. The raw aggregated data and/or the compiled summation of performance scores, whether for a specific game or group of games, may also be used for the purpose of creating a real-time or pseudo-real-time fantasy e-sports game. The accumulated statistical data for a specific game may be used to determine a single top contestant1,3or single top team or may be used to determine a list of top contestants1,3and/or top teams throughout a certain time period; such as determining the overall “Player of the year,” “Team of the Year,” “Game of the Year,” etc.

In this embodiment, the raw aggregated performance statistical data may also be utilized to create, form, and facilitate a competition amongst various games, utilizing the same teams and/or contestants1,3to create a multi-game gaining competition, whereby teams/contestants1,3must compete in various applicable games to constitute a win or progress. For example a “triathlon” gaming competition would require the teams/contestants1,3to compete in three applicable games to constitute a win or progress. It should be clearly understood that substantial benefit may be derived from any number of games in a multi-game gaming competition; e.g. two, five, etc.

The raw aggregated statistical data may also be used for contestants1,3and/or teams to create analytics reporting for a specific game or group of games, and/or team(s), and/or contestant(s)1,3through a time period for the purpose of evaluating gameplay performance, activity, or economic studies as they relate to e-sports. Any portion of the raw aggregated or real-time statistical data, event data, or any information transmitted to the ADSSMI4B may be used for the purposes of displaying on, within, or in-conjunction with live or recorded video broadcasting media, such as in-game video streaming of gameplay, third-party coverage and streaming of tournament event, and match gameplay, broadcasting of summarized coverage regarding or relating to an e-sports event. The raw game-specific data, the raw aggregated data over multiple video games, and/or the compiled summation of performance scores over all of the video games for the contestant(s)1,3may be used or disseminated for the purpose and intent of conducting research of past or present performance as it relates to a specific game, or group of games over a time period, where the intent is to facilitate a recruitment system utilized by groups or teams to evaluate, locate, and procure contestants1,3and/or team members. Any portion of the raw aggregated data, real-time statistical data, event data, or any information transmitted to the ADSSMI4B may be used to disseminate raw game-specific data information, raw aggregated data, and/or compiled summation of performance scores via automated voice delivery systems, such as an automated telephone answering system, or ring-down call system, or public service announcement delivery system, or automated text-to-speech system.

FIG. 12shows the processing and calculation required to render the contestant(s)1,3compiled summation of performance metric(s). The compiled summation of performance score for a contestant1,3is derived and rendered purely based on a proprietary internal mathematical algorithm that formulates a level and normalized metric per each unique characteristic and captured metric for each unique online video game being taken into consideration. This process is accomplished by means of assigning a determined weighted calculation on each item within the raw aggregated data before processing a final normalization and concatenation algorithm. This is necessary because one video game may have a lower level of difficulty that another video game being played; e.g. a kill may be harder to achieve in one video game than it is in another. In the context above, the compiled summation of performance score is a rendered metric or item that can only be created by performing a set or multiple sets of mathematical algorithms based on raw aggregated metrics and data from the video game servers2. Furthermore, the raw aggregated metrics and data are the raw resources, metrics, and items sent as events from the video game servers2, which may independently be used in some form of singular-based video game metrics or for fantasy game point designation. The raw aggregated metrics and data are also heavily relied upon in the execution of the compiled summation of performance score processing.

From a strictly statistical perspective, the following shall always be true in this embodiment: a contestant1,3, group of contestants1,3, and/or team of contestants1,3holds the capability and/or desire to participate in gameplay that is capable of being utilized in the processing of a statistical metric; a metric shall consist of any event or combination of events within an associated game capable of being represented in numerical form (e.g. number of kills, number of deaths, etc.); and the ADSSMI4B is the processing platform that identifies and represents the central or spanned processing engine and/or agents running compiled binary system(s) capable of, and/or designed having sub-systems with intentions of receiving and/or processing the aforementioned metrics. The ADSSMI4B runs in a manner to connect with game servers2over the internet or intranet.

During the course of the contestant(s)1,3actively participating in gameplay (as defined by the associated game; being that of the actions required to generate metric-capable events such as, but not limited to, the act of destroying an objective within such games where the capability exists), raw metric(s) and/or telemetry (shown in step200) data shall be transmitted to the ADSSMI4B or a designated agent and/or repository utilizing one of the following methods; direct submission to the defined ADSSMI4B via internal invocation of associated methods whereby the ADSSMI4B is the recipient (or intended recipient by means of a relay) and the target, but is not the initiator (see step202); or submission to the defined ADSSMI4B via transmission where the ADSSMI4B is the initiator, whereby metrics are transmitted as a response to a pull from the ADSSMI(s)4B (see step204). In other words, as the contestant(s)1,3is playing a game in a game server2, the actions of the contestant1,3will be transmitted to the ADSSMI4B (or any systems that communicate directly with the ADSSMI4B) by one of the following methods: directly sending the contestant1,3information, including the event (e.g. kill, death, etc.) to the ADSSMI4B in real-time; or responding to a request for raw statistical information from the ADSSMI4B.

At step206, during the transaction/transmission of data from the game server2or agent to the ADSSMI4B, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) packets consisting of serialized and encoded entity statistics and event data are sent utilizing any W3C standard and/or The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF®) RFC conforming to web service and data operations, such as application/xml, application/text-xml or application/json (RFC 4627).

Once the transmitted raw data is successfully at the ADSSMI4b, at step208, logic will determine whether or not the raw aggregated event/data is applicable to fantasy applications, to which it will then be further transmitted for storage, in either a persistent data storage layer or a non-persistent volatile data storage layer, on the server4A. A logic, as used herein, is a lookup and comparison of data types and metrics sent in the transaction, ensuring that they are properly marked and identified as a metric that is used in a calculation or for raw display for the fantasy and statistics applications. If the raw event data is not used for fantasy or for statistics operations, then it will be selectively omitted and it will not be stored on the server4A (see step211). Examples of raw event data that would not be used for fantasy or for statistics operations may include items such as player physical real-time location, direction of camera and angle, and other game-specific items. Further logic to refine the location and capacity of storage based on the outcome of the metric being applicable for fantasy gameplay is possible, however not required (retention of all statistics, data, and metrics could be allowed).

At step210, the ADSSMI(s)4B will, at a defined trigger (i.e. a defined amount of time, such as a timer occurring at set intervals [e.g. every 30 minutes], at random, or at the direct trigger of data being received or processed/manipulated), perform a set of computational and mathematical operations to/with available metric(s) that will render the compiled summation of performance metric (see step214) for a single contestant1,3, or group of contestants1,3or team or contestants1,3whereby the metric(s) of one or more associated and applicable games are processed to create an overall performance metric (or group thereof) to effectively represent the performance of the contestant(s)1,3as a whole, as opposed to a singular representation of performance within only a single game. In other words, the ADSSMI4B will then begin a calculation that takes into account all of the raw aggregated statistics and metrics reported for a contestant1,3, group of contestants1,3, or team of contestants1,3across all games to produce a new overall performance metric. It should also be clearly understood that the calculation of the overall performance metric may occur automatically; i.e. without the occurrence of a trigger event.

FIG. 13shows the subscription and automatic pushing of real-time statistics, metrics, and compiled performance data to third-party subscribers22. The ADSSMI4B incorporates a method for providing notification queue capabilities with the extensibility of two-way-communication allowing for third-party subscriptions to trigger events, such that when raw metrics, statistics, or proprietary calculations render a processed overall summation of performance metric, all or a subset of information may be automatically electronically transmitted to subscribing or interconnected third-party systems, agents, and platforms; making possible an automatically synchronized and distributed all-encompassing statistics platform. In other words, the ADSSMI4B may be designed in a manner so that contestant1,3and group statistics and metrics can be pushed to the ADSSMI4B by the game server2, or pulled from the game servers2by the ADSSMI4B, but can also automatically be distributed to other third-party users, systems, leagues, and platforms via directly pushing information, or by the third-party users pulling information based on a notification that is sent by the ADSSMI4B.

Storage of third-party subscribers22may consist of a reference to the subscribing third-party entity22(be it a league, third-party website, game, developer, or any other entity), as well as a logic or algorithm specific to the posting of data, statistics, metrics, and events to that third-party subscriber22(see step218).

Third-party subscriber22subscription management shall consist of the ability to automatically receive information(s) as it pertains to the following items based on a trigger (see step216), which may be individually controlled and maintained by the third-party subscription service (whether the third-party subscriber22elects to receive all events in real-time, or a subset of information in delayed intervals): in-game event data; metrics and statistics computation triggers; overall performance calculation triggers; specific events and or metrics (such as a kill), and specific events and data for a certain game.

At step220, when a trigger event is captured (at step216), the platform will conduct a logic load and review to determine the exact data being requested or that is needed to be sent to the third-party subscriber/endpoint22(e.g. subscriber league, subscriber game system, subscriber website, subscriber API and platform, etc.).

At step222, the data being transmitted over TCP socket connections to a third-party subscriber/endpoint22can be serialized and encoded utilizing any W3C standard and/or The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF®) RFC conforming to web service and data operations, such as application/xml, application/text-xml or application/json (RFC 4627).

The point when data successfully reaches the third-party referenced subscriber/endpoint22(see step222), the logic to transform, manipulate, and otherwise further distribute and display the data as intended on leagues, game systems, websites, and any other third-party platform is at the discretion of the third-party subscriber22(see step224).

Referring toFIG. 14, another embodiment of the system100is shown, wherein there may be two-way/bidirectional communication between the ADSSMI4B and each third-party subscriber22. In this embodiment, the system100will allow a bidirectional transaction with the ADSSSMI4B to occur from, to, and with the third-party subscribers22in a manner such that an individual third-party subscriber22is able to host, maintain, and fully control their games, their users, their statistics, and fantasy leagues while also being able to send certain components of raw performance data as a transaction to the ADSSMI4B in order to receive an aggregated performance statistic or metric. The aggregated performance statistic or metric may be calculated based on that individual third-party subscriber's22raw performance data and transmitted back to that individual third-party subscriber server20so that it can be further used in statistics and fantasy league play owned by that individual third-party subscriber22. Alternatively, the aggregated performance statistic or metric may include that individual third-party subscriber's own raw performance data (which has been compiled into an aggregated performance statistic or metric) as well aggregated performance statistics or metrics from other third-party subscribers'22fantasy leagues, which can all then be further used in statistics and fantasy league play owned by the individual third-party subscriber22.