US20190299079A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20190299079A1
Application number: US16/366,599
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael B Trahan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-03-27
Filing date: 2019-03-27
Publication date: 2019-10-03

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method of facilitating user participation in a challenge, in accordance with some embodiments. Accordingly, the method may include a step of receiving, using a communication device, at least one recording from a recording device configured to record the challenge performed by the user to obtain the at least one recording. Further, the method may include a step of analyzing, using a processing device, the at least one recording to determine if the at least one condition is fulfilled. Further, the method may include a step of transmitting, using the communication device, information about at least one reward to the user device based on the analyzing.

Description

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/648,830 filed Mar. 27, 2018.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Generally, the present disclosure relates to the field of data processing. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to methods, systems, apparatuses and devices for facilitating user participation in a challenge.

BACKGROUND

Individuals play multiple sports as pastime, and for leisure, or for fitness. Further, individuals may also engage in friendly challenges, and competitions in sports, the goals of which may differ from the actual rules of the sport.

Further, individuals are able to partake in such sporting challenges to gain rewards, or prizes. However, individuals, or companies facilitating these challenges may have to physically verify the performance of such challenges before facilitating the individuals who may have performed the said challenges with one or more prizes and/or awards.

Existing techniques for facilitating user participation in a challenge are deficient with regard to several aspects. For instance, current technologies do not automatically verify the performance of challenges by one or more individuals in multiple sport disciplines through videos. Furthermore, current technologies do not verify the performance of challenges by one or more individuals in multiple sport disciplines through additional sensory data such as GPS.

Therefore, there is a need for improved methods, systems, apparatuses and devices for facilitating user participation in a challenge that may overcome one or more of the above-mentioned problems and/or limitations.

BRIEF SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form, that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Nor is this summary intended to be used to limit the claimed subject matter's scope.

Further disclosed herein is a system for facilitating user participation in a challenge, in accordance with some embodiments. Accordingly, the system may include a communication device configured to receive at least one recording from a recording device configured to record the challenge performed by the user to obtain the at least one recording. Further, the communication device may be configured to transmit, information about at least one reward to the user device based on an analyzing. Further, the system may include a processing device configured to analyze the at least one recording to determine if the at least one condition is fulfilled.

Both the foregoing summary and the following detailed description provide examples and are explanatory only. Accordingly, the foregoing summary and the following detailed description should not be considered to be restrictive. Further, features or variations may be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, embodiments may be directed to various feature combinations and sub-combinations described in the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments of the present disclosure. The drawings contain representations of various trademarks and copyrights owned by the Applicants. In addition, the drawings may contain other marks owned by third parties and are being used for illustrative purposes only. All rights to various trademarks and copyrights represented herein, except those belonging to their respective owners, are vested in and the property of the applicants. The applicants retain and reserve all rights in their trademarks and copyrights included herein, and grant permission to reproduce the material only in connection with reproduction of the granted patent and for no other purpose.

Furthermore, the drawings may contain text or captions that may explain certain embodiments of the present disclosure. This text is included for illustrative, non-limiting, explanatory purposes of certain embodiments detailed in the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an online platform consistent with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a system of facilitating user participation in a challenge, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method of facilitating user participation in a challenge, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for analyzing the at least one recording to determine if the at least one condition may be fulfilled, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary flowchart of a method to facilitate validation of performance of challenges in golf through user-generated videos, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a computing device for implementing the methods disclosed herein, in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by one having ordinary skill in the relevant art that the present disclosure has broad utility and application. As should be understood, any embodiment may incorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed aspects of the disclosure and may further incorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed features. Furthermore, any embodiment discussed and identified as being “preferred” is considered to be part of a best mode contemplated for carrying out the embodiments of the present disclosure. Other embodiments also may be discussed for additional illustrative purposes in providing a full and enabling disclosure. Moreover, many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosed by the embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Accordingly, while embodiments are described herein in detail in relation to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is illustrative and exemplary of the present disclosure, and are made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure. The detailed disclosure herein of one or more embodiments is not intended, nor is to be construed, to limit the scope of patent protection afforded in any claim of a patent issuing here from, which scope is to be defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof. It is not intended that the scope of patent protection be defined by reading into any claim limitation found herein and/or issuing here from that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.

Thus, for example, any sequence(s) and/or temporal order of steps of various processes or methods that are described herein are illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, it should be understood that, although steps of various processes or methods may be shown and described as being in a sequence or temporal order, the steps of any such processes or methods are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequence or order, absent an indication otherwise. Indeed, the steps in such processes or methods generally may be carried out in various different sequences and orders while still falling within the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of patent protection is to be defined by the issued claim(s) rather than the description set forth herein.

Additionally, it is important to note that each term used herein refers to that which an ordinary artisan would understand such term to mean based on the contextual use of such term herein. To the extent that the meaning of a term used herein—as understood by the ordinary artisan based on the contextual use of such term—differs in any way from any particular dictionary definition of such term, it is intended that the meaning of the term as understood by the ordinary artisan should prevail.

Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein, “a” and “an” each generally denotes “at least one,” but does not exclude a plurality unless the contextual use dictates otherwise. When used herein to join a list of items, “or” denotes “at least one of the items,” but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Finally, when used herein to join a list of items, “and” denotes “all of the items of the list.”

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. While many embodiments of the disclosure may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the disclosure. Instead, the proper scope of the disclosure is defined by the claims found herein and/or issuing here from. The present disclosure contains headers. It should be understood that these headers are used as references and are not to be construed as limiting upon the subjected matter disclosed under the header.

The present disclosure includes many aspects and features. Moreover, while many aspects and features relate to, and are described in the context of user participation in a challenge, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to use only in this context.

In general, the method disclosed herein may be performed by one or more computing devices. For example, in some embodiments, the method may be performed by a server computer in communication with one or more client devices over a communication network such as, for example, the Internet. In some other embodiments, the method may be performed by one or more of at least one server computer, at least one client device, at least one network device, at least one sensor and at least one actuator. Examples of the one or more client devices and/or the server computer may include, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant, a portable electronic device, a wearable computer, a smart phone, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a smart electrical appliance, a video game console, a rack server, a super-computer, a mainframe computer, mini-computer, micro-computer, a storage server, an application server (e.g. a mail server, a web server, a real-time communication server, an FTP server, a virtual server, a proxy server, a DNS server etc.), a quantum computer, and so on. Further, one or more client devices and/or the server computer may be configured for executing a software application such as, for example, but not limited to, an operating system (e.g. Windows, Mac OS, Unix, Linux, Android, etc.) in order to provide a user interface (e.g. GUI, touch-screen based interface, voice based interface, gesture based interface etc.) for use by the one or more users and/or a network interface for communicating with other devices over a communication network. Accordingly, the server computer may include a processing device configured for performing data processing tasks such as, for example, but not limited to, analyzing, identifying, determining, generating, transforming, calculating, computing, compressing, decompressing, encrypting, decrypting, scrambling, splitting, merging, interpolating, extrapolating, redacting, anonymizing, encoding and decoding. Further, the server computer may include a communication device configured for communicating with one or more external devices. The one or more external devices may include, for example, but are not limited to, a client device, a third party database, public database, a private database and so on. Further, the communication device may be configured for communicating with the one or more external devices over one or more communication channels. Further, the one or more communication channels may include a wireless communication channel and/or a wired communication channel. Accordingly, the communication device may be configured for performing one or more of transmitting and receiving of information in electronic form. Further, the server computer may include a storage device configured for performing data storage and/or data retrieval operations. In general, the storage device may be configured for providing reliable storage of digital information. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the storage device may be based on technologies such as, but not limited to, data compression, data backup, data redundancy, deduplication, error correction, data finger-printing, role based access control, and so on.

Further, one or more steps of the method disclosed herein may be initiated, maintained, controlled and/or terminated based on a control input received from one or more devices operated by one or more users such as, for example, but not limited to, an end user, an admin, a service provider, a service consumer, an agent, a broker and a representative thereof. Further, the user as defined herein may refer to a human, an animal or an artificially intelligent being in any state of existence, unless stated otherwise, elsewhere in the present disclosure. Further, in some embodiments, the one or more users may be required to successfully perform authentication in order for the control input to be effective. In general, a user of the one or more users may perform authentication based on the possession of a secret human readable secret data (e.g. username, password, passphrase, PIN, secret question, secret answer etc.) and/or possession of a machine readable secret data (e.g. encryption key, decryption key, bar codes, etc.) and/or or possession of one or more embodied characteristics unique to the user (e.g. biometric variables such as, but not limited to, fingerprint, palm-print, voice characteristics, behavioral characteristics, facial features, iris pattern, heart rate variability, evoked potentials, brain waves, and so on) and/or possession of a unique device (e.g. a device with a unique physical and/or chemical and/or biological characteristic, a hardware device with a unique serial number, a network device with a unique IP/MAC address, a telephone with a unique phone number, a smartcard with an authentication token stored thereupon, etc.). Accordingly, the one or more steps of the method may include communicating (e.g. transmitting and/or receiving) with one or more sensor devices and/or one or more actuators in order to perform authentication. For example, the one or more steps may include receiving, using the communication device, the secret human readable data from an input device such as, for example, a keyboard, a keypad, a touch-screen, a microphone, a camera and so on. Likewise, the one or more steps may include receiving, using the communication device, the one or more embodied characteristics from one or more biometric sensors.

Further, one or more steps of the method may be automatically initiated, maintained and/or terminated based on one or more predefined conditions. In an instance, the one or more predefined conditions may be based on one or more contextual variables. In general, the one or more contextual variables may represent a condition relevant to the performance of the one or more steps of the method. The one or more contextual variables may include, for example, but are not limited to, location, time, identity of a user associated with a device (e.g. the server computer, a client device etc.) corresponding to the performance of the one or more steps, environmental variables (e.g. temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed, lighting, sound, etc.) associated with a device corresponding to the performance of the one or more steps, physical state and/or physiological state and/or psychological state of the user, physical state (e.g. motion, direction of motion, orientation, speed, velocity, acceleration, trajectory, etc.) of the device corresponding to the performance of the one or more steps and/or semantic content of data associated with the one or more users. Accordingly, the one or more steps may include communicating with one or more sensors and/or one or more actuators associated with the one or more contextual variables. For example, the one or more sensors may include, but are not limited to, a timing device (e.g. a real-time clock), a location sensor (e.g. a GPS receiver, a GLONASS receiver, an indoor location sensor etc.), a biometric sensor (e.g. a fingerprint sensor), an environmental variable sensor (e.g. temperature sensor, humidity sensor, pressure sensor, etc.) and a device state sensor (e.g. a power sensor, a voltage/current sensor, a switch-state sensor, a usage sensor, etc. associated with the device corresponding to performance of the or more steps).

Further, the one or more steps of the method may be performed one or more number of times. Additionally, the one or more steps may be performed in any order other than as exemplarily disclosed herein, unless explicitly stated otherwise, elsewhere in the present disclosure. Further, two or more steps of the one or more steps may, in some embodiments, be simultaneously performed, at least in part. Further, in some embodiments, there may be one or more time gaps between performance of any two steps of the one or more steps.

Further, in some embodiments, the one or more predefined conditions may be specified by the one or more users. Accordingly, the one or more steps may include receiving, using the communication device, the one or more predefined conditions from one or more and devices operated by the one or more users. Further, the one or more predefined conditions may be stored in the storage device. Alternatively, and/or additionally, in some embodiments, the one or more predefined conditions may be automatically determined, using the processing device, based on historical data corresponding to performance of the one or more steps. For example, the historical data may be collected, using the storage device, from a plurality of instances of performance of the method. Such historical data may include performance actions (e.g. initiating, maintaining, interrupting, terminating, etc.) of the one or more steps and/or the one or more contextual variables associated therewith. Further, machine learning may be performed on the historical data in order to determine the one or more predefined conditions. For instance, machine learning on the historical data may determine a correlation between one or more contextual variables and performance of the one or more steps of the method. Accordingly, the one or more predefined conditions may be generated, using the processing device, based on the correlation.

Further, one or more steps of the method may be performed at one or more spatial locations. For instance, the method may be performed by a plurality of devices interconnected through a communication network. Accordingly, in an example, one or more steps of the method may be performed by a server computer. Similarly, one or more steps of the method may be performed by a client computer. Likewise, one or more steps of the method may be performed by an intermediate entity such as, for example, a proxy server. For instance, one or more steps of the method may be performed in a distributed fashion across the plurality of devices in order to meet one or more objectives. For example, one objective may be to provide load balancing between two or more devices. Another objective may be to restrict a location of one or more of an input data, an output data and any intermediate data therebetween corresponding to one or more steps of the method. For example, in a client-server environment, sensitive data corresponding to a user may not be allowed to be transmitted to the server computer. Accordingly, one or more steps of the method operating on the sensitive data and/or a derivative thereof may be performed at the client device.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of anonline platform100 consistent with various embodiments of the present disclosure. By way of non-limiting example, theonline platform100 to facilitate user participation in a challenge may be hosted on acentralized server102, such as, for example, a cloud computing service. Thecentralized server102 may communicate with other network entities, such as, for example, a mobile device104 (such as a smartphone, a laptop, a tablet computer etc.), other electronic devices106 (such as desktop computers, server computers etc.),databases108, andsensors110 over acommunication network114, such as, but not limited to, the Internet. Further, users of theonline platform100 may include relevant parties such as, but not limited to, end users, administrators, service providers, service consumers and so on. Accordingly, in some instances, electronic devices operated by the one or more relevant parties may be in communication with the platform.

Auser116, such as the one or more relevant parties, may accessonline platform100 through a web based software application or browser. The web based software application may be embodied as, for example, but not be limited to, a website, a web application, a desktop application, and a mobile application compatible with acomputing device600.

According to some embodiments, theonline platform100 may be configured to facilitate user participation in a challenge. The challenges may pertain to any sport, such as golf, basketball, and so on, and may include the performance of one or more maneuvers specific to the sport. For instance, if a challenge pertains to basketball, the challenge may include getting a basket from half-court on a basketball court.

Further, theonline platform100 may communicate with one or more user devices, such as themobile device104, and the otherelectronic devices106. The one or more user devices may include one or more mobile devices such as, but not limited to, smartphones, computer tablets, laptops, and so on. The one or more user devices may include a communication device configured to communicate over a communication network such as, but not limited to, a cellular network, a satellite network, a personal area network, Bluetooth, Internet and so on. The one or more users of theonline platform100, such as one or more players, challenge takers, and so on, may use the one or more user devices to capture one or more videos displaying one or more challenges performed by the one or more users, and to access theonline platform100 receive validation, and verification of one or more challenges that may have been performed by the one or more users.

Accordingly, to facilitate validation of performance of a challenge by a user through one or more user-generated videos, theonline platform100 may receive, using a communication device, one or more unique identifiers, describing user information from one or more connected user devices of a user. The one or more unique identifiers may include personal information such as the name, age, gender, location, etc. of the user. In an instance, the one or more identifiers may be received through an input mechanism of the one or more user devices such as, for example, a desktop computer, laptop computer, a tablet computer, a mobile device, or a wearable device. Further, the one or more user devices may be configured to communicate with the communication device of a server computer. Accordingly, in an instance, the one or more identifiers input through the input mechanism may be transmitted from the one or more user devices to the server computer.

Further, theonline platform100 may receive, through the communication device, one or more indicators about a sport in which the user may wish to perform a challenge, and one or more indicators describing the challenge. For instance, the user may wish to perform a challenge pertaining to golf. Accordingly, the challenge may include getting a hole-in-one in par 3 hole or getting a hole in one from a distance of at least 165 yards. In an instance, the one or more indicators may be received through an input mechanism of the one or more user devices such as, for example, a desktop computer, laptop computer, a tablet computer, a mobile device, or a wearable device. Further, the one or more user devices may be configured to communicate with the communication device of a server computer. Accordingly, in an instance, the one or more indicators input through the input mechanism may be transmitted from the one or more user devices to the server computer.

Further, theonline platform100 may receive, through the communication device, a video, and associated data, displaying the user performing the indicated challenge, wherein the video may have been recorded through a user device of the user. Associated data may include metadata associated with the video, such as one or more of frame rate, date, and time of capturing, duration of the video, and so on. Further, associated data may include sensory data captured through one or more sensors of the user device used to capture the video (such as sensors110), such as location, that may have been captured through a location sensor, such as GPS. In an instance, the video may be received through an input mechanism of the user devices that may have been used by the user to capture the video, such as a tablet computer, or a smartphone. Further, the user device used to capture the video may be configured to communicate with the communication device of a server computer. Accordingly, in an instance, the captured video input through the input mechanism may be transmitted from the user device used to capture the video to the server computer.

Further, theonline platform100 may retrieve, through a storage device, additional data from one or more external databases. For instance, additional data may include location information about one or more locations where the user may perform the challenge. For instance, if the user wishes to perform a golf challenge that may include getting a hole-in-one in par 4 hole, the additional data retrieved by theonline platform100 may include GPS coordinates of one or more holes on one or more golf courses where the user may undertake the challenge. Further, if the user wishes to perform a challenge related to football, such as kicking a field goal from 70 yards, the additional data retrieved by theonline platform100 may include GPS coordinates of one or more football stadiums, along with GPS coordinates of one or more field goals in the one or more stadiums.

Further, theonline platform100 may, through a processing device, analyze the received video, and additional retrieved data to validate whether the user may have completed the undertaken challenge. For instance, the video may be analyzed to determine whether the video may fulfill one or more rules that may be associated with the challenge, pertaining to the performance of the challenge, and/or recording of the video. For instance, if one or the rules of the challenge states that the video may have to be filmed in a single take, the received video may be analyzed to detect signs of discontinuity to determine whether the whether the video may have been filmed in a single take. Further, image recognition may be used to determine whether the challenge may have been successfully completed. For instance, if the challenge pertains to golf, and is getting a hole in one, the video may be analyzed to determine whether the golf ball may have landed in the hole after the completion of the shot. Further, additional data retrieved from the one or more external databases may be analyzed in conjunction with data associated with the video. For instance, if the user wishes to perform a challenge pertaining to golf, such as getting a hole-in-one in par 3 hole, or getting a hole in one from a distance of at least 165 yards, the associated data received from the video, such as location of the user may be analyzed to determine a particular golf course, and a particular hole where the user may be attempting to make the shot. Further, the location of the user may be analyzed to determine the position of the user in the particular golf course, such as a particular green, or hole. Further, additional data retrieved from the one or more external databases may be analyzed to determine the GPS location of one or more holes on the golf course on which the user may be attempting the challenge. Accordingly, additional data retrieved from the one or more external databases, and associated data received from the video may be analyzed to determine whether the user may be a stipulated distance away from the hole in which the user may choose to make the shot and get the hole in one. Accordingly, if all the conditions, and rules associated with the challenge are determined to be fulfilled, the user may be determined to have successfully completed the challenge. Further, in an embodiment, third party verifiers may be used to determine whether the challenge may have been completed by the user. Accordingly, theonline platform100 may transmit the received data, such as the video, and associated, and additional data to one or more third-party verifiers, wherein the third-party verifiers may validate whether the challenge may have been completed. Accordingly, the one or more third-party verifiers may transmit the result of the challenge to theonline platform100. For instance, the received data may be transmitted to one or more sports experts, who may perform the determine whether the challenge may have been completed.

Further, theonline platform100 may transmit, using the communication device, a pre-decided winning prize associated with the challenge performed by the user, into a designated account of the user. In an instance, the winning prize may be a currency amount, which may be transferred into a designated bank account of the user. Further, if the winning prize includes one or more coupons that may be utilized by the user, the one or more coupons may be transmitted into a preferred device of the user, such as in the form of an image, or a code, to the user device of the user.

Further, in an embodiment, theonline platform100 may analyze the video, associated data, such as frame rate, and determine whether the user may have completed the challenge. For instance, if the challenge pertains to golf, and getting a hole-in-one from a certain distance, such as 130 yards, theonline platform100 may analyze the video against associated parameters, such as frame rate, and determine whether the user may have made the hole-in-one from an appropriate distance.

Further, in an embodiment, theonline platform100 may receive, through the communication device one or more hardware, software, and storage information pertaining to the user device that may be used to capture the video of the user performing the challenge. For instance, theonline platform100 may receive one, or more of storage information, battery information, camera specifications, and so on. In an instance, theonline platform100 may query appropriate modules in the user device, such as a storage module, and power module to obtain the required information. Accordingly, based on the analysis of the received data, theonline platform100 may allow the user to capture the video of the user performing the challenge. For instance, if the battery in the user device is below a pre-defined percentage, theonline platform100 may not allow the user device to capture the video.

Further, in an embodiment, the one or more criteria for the one or more software information, hardware information, and storage information may be determined on the basis of the particular challenge that the user may wish to undertake. For instance, the amount of battery percentage, and storage space that may be determined to be pre-requisite to record a video for a challenge pertaining to golf may be higher than the amount of battery percentage, and storage space that may be determined to be pre-requisite to record a video for a challenge pertaining to basketball owing to a potential difference in length of the video.

FIG. 2 is asystem200 of facilitating user participation in a challenge, in accordance with some embodiments. Further, the challenge may include at least one condition to be fulfilled by a user. Further, thesystem200 may include acommunication device202 configured to receive at least one recording from a recording device configured to record the challenge performed by the user to obtain the at least one recording, and transmit information about at least one reward to the user device based on an analyzing. Further, thesystem200 may include aprocessing device204 configured to analyze the at least one recording to determine if the at least one condition may be fulfilled. Further, the recording device may include at least one of a digital camera, a microphone, a camera drone, and so on. Further, the at least one reward may include at least one of a monetary reward in the form of an electronic transfer to a designated bank account, a discount coupon transmitted to the user device, and a cryptocurrency reward transferred to a crypto-currency wallet.

Further, the at least one condition may include at least one allowed value related to at least one measurable parameter related to the challenge.

Further, in an embodiment, the at least one measurable parameter related to the challenge may describe the at least one condition related to the challenge. Further, the at least one allowed value related to the at least one measurable parameter may correspond to a numerical value of the measurable parameter required to be fulfilled by the user while performing the challenge. For instance, the challenge may be related to golf. Further, a condition of the at least one condition related to the challenge may describe that the user may need to make a hole in one from a distance of 100 yards. Accordingly, a measurable parameter of the at least one measurable parameter may include a distance, with an allowed value of the at least one allowed value with a numerical value of 100 yards. Further, in an instance, the challenge may be related to basketball. Further, a condition of the at least one condition related to the challenge may describe that the user may need to score 3 consecutive baskets from a distance of 50 feet and at an angle of 90 degrees from the basket. Accordingly, three measurable parameters of the at least one measurable parameter may include a distance, an allowed value of the at least one allowed value with a numerical value of 50 feet, an angle, an allowed value of the at least one allowed value with a numerical value of 90 degrees, and a count, an allowed value of the at least one allowed value with a numerical value of 3.

Further, in an embodiment, the at least one measurable parameter may include time, with an associated at least one allowed value. For instance, the challenge may include a condition describing that the user may need to balance a soccer ball on his head for a time (measurable parameter) with an allowed value of 120 seconds.

Further, in an embodiment, the measurable parameter may include an allowed value with an associated lower limit. For instance, the challenge may be related to soccer, wherein the user may be required to hit a crossbar of a goal with a soccer ball from a distance with an allowed value of at least 50 meters.

Further, in an embodiment, the measurable parameter may include an orientation of a user. For instance, the challenge may be related to basketball, wherein the condition may require the user to score a basket from a distance with an allowed value of 80 feet, wherein the measurable parameter may include an orientation of the user as facing away from the basket, and being blindfolded.

Further, theprocessing device204 may be configured to obtain at least one actual value related to the at least one measurable parameter from the at least one recording. Further, the at least one actual value may correspond to a numerical value that may have been fulfilled by the user. For instance, the challenge may be related to golf, with a condition of the at least one condition related to the challenge describing that the user may be required to make a hole in one from a distance (measurable parameter), with an allowed value of the at least one allowed value with a numerical value of 100 yards.

Further, theprocessing device204 may be configured to analyze the recording, such as through image processing, and determine at least one actual value related to the measurable parameter. For instance, theprocessing device204 may be configured to determine an actual value corresponding to the distance from which the user may have made a hole in one.

Further, in an embodiment, theprocessing device204 may be configured to determine if the condition related to the challenge may have been completed. For instance, the challenge may be related to golf, with a condition of the at least one condition related to the challenge describing that the user may be required to make a hole in one from a distance (measurable parameter), with an allowed value of the at least one allowed value with a numerical value of 100 yards. Further, theprocessing device204 may be configured to determine, such as through image processing of one or more frames of the recording, whether the user may have made a hole in one.

Further, theprocessing device204 may be configured to compare the at least one allowed value and the at least one actual value to determine if the at least one condition may be fulfilled. Further, in an embodiment, the condition may be determined to have been fulfilled if the actual value may be equal to the at least one allowed value.

Further, in some embodiments, the recording device may include the user device, such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, and so on.

Further, in some embodiments, the at least one recording may include an audio-video footage of the user performing the challenge.

Further, in some embodiments, the recording device may be configured to record the challenge based on at least one pre-defined rule. Further, the at least one pre-defined rule may include an orientation of the recording device while obtaining the recording. For instance, if the at least one recording includes an audio-video footage of the user performing the challenge, the rule may specify the orientation of the recording device to obtain the audio-video footage in a landscape mode (horizontal orientation), or a portrait mode (vertical orientation). Further, the at-least one orientation may include a format of recording. For instance, if the at least one recording includes an audio-video footage of the user performing the challenge, the rule may specify the format of the audio-video to include at least one of FLV (.flv), MP4 (.mp4), and Matroska (.mkv). Further, the at least one pre-defined rule may describe that the recording may be required to be captured in one single take, without breaks. Further, the at least one pre-defined rule may describe a positioning of the user, and one or more articles in the recording while obtaining the recording. For instance, if the at least one recording includes an audio-video footage of the user performing the challenge, wherein the challenge may include performing 5000 keep-ups with a soccer ball, the rule may specify that the user, and the soccer ball may be required to be visible in the recording while the user may be performing the challenge.

Further, in some embodiments, thecommunication device202 may be configured to transmit the at least one condition, and the at least one recording to a third party verifier device to determine the challenge completion. Further, in some embodiments, thecommunication device202 may be configured to receive at least one of a confirmation, or a denial of the challenge completion from the third party verifier device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of amethod300 of facilitating user participation in a challenge, in accordance with some embodiments. Further, the challenge may include at least one condition to be fulfilled by a user. Further, at302, themethod300 may include

receiving, using a communication device, such as thecommunication device202, at least one recording from a recording device configured to record the challenge performed by the user to obtain the at least one recording.

Further, at304, themethod300 may include analyzing, using a processing device, such as theprocessing device204, the at least one recording to determine if the at least one condition may be fulfilled.

Further, at306, themethod300 may include transmitting, using the communication device, information about at least one reward to the user device based on the analyzing. Further, the at least one condition may include at least one allowed value related to at least one measurable parameter related to the challenge.

Further, the analyzing may include obtaining at least one actual value related to the at least one measurable parameter from the at least one recording.

Further, the analyzing may include comparing the at least one allowed value and the at least one actual value to determine if the at least one condition may be fulfilled.

Further, the recording device may be the user device.

Further, the recording device may be configured to record the challenge based on at least one pre-defined rule.

Further, the at least one recording may include an audio-video footage of the user performing the challenge.

Further, themethod300 may include transmitting, using the communication device, the at least one condition, and the at least one recording to a third party verifier device to determine the challenge completion.

Further, themethod300 may include receiving, using the processing device at least one of a confirmation, or a denial of the challenge completion from the third party verifier device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of amethod400 for analyzing the at least one recording to determine if the at least one condition may be fulfilled, in accordance with some embodiments. Further, at402, themethod400 may include determining at least one characteristic of at least one article related to the challenge before the challenge may be performed and after the challenge may be performed. Further, the at least one recording may include content before the challenge may be performed and after the challenge may be performed.

Further, at404, themethod400 may include comparing the at least one characteristic of the at least one article before the challenge may be performed and after the challenge may be performed to obtain a matching score.

Further, at406, themethod400 may include authenticating the challenge based on the comparing.

Further, at532, themethod500 may include sending prize to winner if win is verified. Further, at534, themethod500 may include launching forensic investigation if win is not verified. Further, at536, themethod500 may include verifying win after forensic investigation. Further, at538, themethod500 may include deeming win to be null and void if win is not verified after forensic investigation. Further, to verify distance, at540, themethod500 may include selecting verification distance. Further, at542, themethod500 may include receiving geo-data from a position of the user, and obtaining location of a current hole from a database, such as thedatabase108.

Further, at544, themethod500 may include calculating distance from current location to a front of green for the current hole.

With reference toFIG. 6, a system consistent with an embodiment of the disclosure may include a computing device or cloud service, such ascomputing device600. In a basic configuration,computing device600 may include at least oneprocessing unit602 and asystem memory604. Depending on the configuration and type of computing device,system memory604 may comprise, but is not limited to, volatile (e.g. random-access memory (RAM)), non-volatile (e.g. read-only memory (ROM)), flash memory, or any combination.System memory604 may includeoperating system605, one ormore programming modules606, and may include aprogram data607.Operating system605, for example, may be suitable for controllingcomputing device600's operation. In one embodiment,programming modules606 may include image-processing module, machine learning module. Furthermore, embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in conjunction with a graphics library, other operating systems, or any other application program and is not limited to any particular application or system. This basic configuration is illustrated inFIG. 6 by those components within a dashedline608.

Computing device

600 may have additional features or functionality. For example,computing device600 may also include additional data storage devices (removable and/or non-removable) such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Such additional storage is illustrated inFIG. 6 by aremovable storage609 and anon-removable storage610. Computer storage media may include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data.System memory604,removable storage609, andnon-removable storage610 are all computer storage media examples (i.e., memory storage.) Computer storage media may include, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, electrically erasable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store information and which can be accessed by computingdevice600. Any such computer storage media may be part ofdevice600.Computing device600 may also have input device(s)612 such as a keyboard, a mouse, a pen, a sound input device, a touch input device, a location sensor, a camera, a biometric sensor, etc. Output device(s)614 such as a display, speakers, a printer, etc. may also be included. The aforementioned devices are examples and others may be used.

Computing device

600 may also contain acommunication connection616 that may allowdevice600 to communicate withother computing devices618, such as over a network in a distributed computing environment, for example, an intranet or the Internet.Communication connection616 is one example of communication media. Communication media may typically be embodied by computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” may describe a signal that has one or more characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media may include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared, and other wireless media. The term computer readable media as used herein may include both storage media and communication media.

As stated above, a number of program modules and data files may be stored insystem memory604, includingoperating system605. While executing onprocessing unit602, programming modules606 (e.g.,application620 such as a media player) may perform processes including, for example, one or more stages of methods, algorithms, systems, applications, servers, databases as described above. The aforementioned process is an example, andprocessing unit602 may perform other processes. Other programming modules that may be used in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure may include machine learning applications.

Generally, consistent with embodiments of the disclosure, program modules may include routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that may perform particular tasks or that may implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, general purpose graphics processor-based systems, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, application specific integrated circuit-based electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Embodiments of the disclosure may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Furthermore, embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in an electrical circuit comprising discrete electronic elements, packaged or integrated electronic chips containing logic gates, a circuit utilizing a microprocessor, or on a single chip containing electronic elements or microprocessors. Embodiments of the disclosure may also be practiced using other technologies capable of performing logical operations such as, for example, AND, OR, and NOT, including but not limited to mechanical, optical, fluidic, and quantum technologies. In addition, embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced within a general-purpose computer or in any other circuits or systems.

Embodiments of the disclosure, for example, may be implemented as a computer process (method), a computing system, or as an article of manufacture, such as a computer program product or computer readable media. The computer program product may be a computer storage media readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. The computer program product may also be a propagated signal on a carrier readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. Accordingly, the present disclosure may be embodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.). In other words, embodiments of the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium having computer-usable or computer-readable program code embodied in the medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system. A computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific computer-readable medium examples (a non-exhaustive list), the computer-readable medium may include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.

Embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, are described above with reference to block diagrams and/or operational illustrations of methods, systems, and computer program products according to embodiments of the disclosure. The functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order as shown in any flowchart. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.

While certain embodiments of the disclosure have been described, other embodiments may exist. Furthermore, although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described as being associated with data stored in memory and other storage mediums, data can also be stored on or read from other types of computer-readable media, such as secondary storage devices, like hard disks, solid state storage (e.g., USB drive), or a CD-ROM, a carrier wave from the Internet, or other forms of RAM or ROM. Further, the disclosed methods' stages may be modified in any manner, including by reordering stages and/or inserting or deleting stages, without departing from the disclosure.

Although the present disclosure has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of facilitating user participation in a challenge, wherein the challenge includes at least one condition to be fulfilled by a user, the method comprising:

receiving, using a communication device, at least one recording from a recording device configured to record the challenge performed by the user to obtain the at least one recording;

analyzing, using a processing device, the at least one recording to determine if the at least one condition is fulfilled; and

transmitting, using the communication device, information about at least one reward to the user device based on the analyzing.

2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one condition comprises at least one allowed value related to at least one measurable parameter related to the challenge.

3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the analyzing includes obtaining at least one actual value related to the at least one measurable parameter from the at least one recording.

4. The method ofclaim 3, wherein the analyzing includes comparing the at least one allowed value and the at least one actual value to determine if the at least one condition is fulfilled.

5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the recording device is the user device.

6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the recording device is configured to record the challenge based on at least one pre-defined rule.

7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the analyzing includes:

determining at least one characteristic of at least one article related to the challenge before the challenge is performed and after the challenge is performed, wherein the at least one recording includes content before the challenge is performed and after the challenge is performed;

comparing the at least one characteristic of the at least one article before the challenge is performed and after the challenge is performed to obtain a matching score; and

authenticating the challenge based on the comparing.

8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one recording includes an audio-video footage of the user performing the challenge.

9. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising transmitting, using the communication device, the at least one condition, and the at least one recording to a third party verifier device to determine the challenge completion.

10. The method ofclaim 9 further comprising receiving, using the processing device, at least one of a confirmation, or a denial of the challenge completion from the third party verifier device.

11. A system of facilitating user participation in a challenge, wherein the challenge includes at least one condition to be fulfilled by a user, the system comprising:

a communication device configured to:

receive at least one recording from a recording device configured to record the challenge performed by the user to obtain the at least one recording; and

transmit, information about at least one reward to the user device based on an analyzing; and

a processing device configured to analyze the at least one recording to determine if the at least one condition is fulfilled.

12. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the at least one condition comprises at least one allowed value related to at least one measurable parameter related to the challenge.

13. The system ofclaim 12, wherein the processing device is configured to obtain at least one actual value related to the at least one measurable parameter from the at least one recording.

14. The system ofclaim 13, wherein the processing device is configured to compare the at least one allowed value and the at least one actual value to determine if the at least one condition is fulfilled.

15. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the recording device is the user device.

16. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the recording device is configured to record the challenge based on at least one pre-defined rule.

17. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the processing device is configured to:

determine at least one characteristic of at least one article related to the challenge before the challenge is performed and after the challenge is performed, wherein the at least one recording includes content before the challenge is performed and after the challenge is performed;

compare the at least one characteristic of the at least one article before the challenge is performed and after the challenge is performed to obtain a matching score; and

authenticate the challenge based on the comparing.

18. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the at least one recording includes an audio-video footage of the user performing the challenge.

19. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the communication device is configured to transmit the at least one condition, and the at least one recording to a third party verifier device to determine the challenge completion.

20. The system ofclaim 19, wherein the communication device is configured to receive at least one of a confirmation, or a denial of the challenge completion from the third party verifier device.