Fantasy Sports Grid System Using Preliminary Player Assignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sports contest methods are largely based on chance, as participants select boxes without knowledge of the numbers that will be placed on the grid, which are randomly assigned to reflect final scores, lacking an element of skill.
Innovation Solution
An online fantasy sports contest system where participants select boxes associated with real-world sports players or teams, with fantasy points assigned based on their performance, allowing for skillful predictions and cumulative scoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If random numbers are assigned to grid boxes to reflect final scores, then the contest can be easily conducted with simple rules, but the contest becomes a game of chance rather than a game of skill
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by assigning player names to grid rows and columns before participants make their selections. This allows participants to analyze and predict outcomes based on known information about player performance, transforming the contest from pure chance to a game incorporating skill and knowledge while maintaining the simple grid-based structure.
2Ease of operation
If participants select boxes without knowledge of assigned numbers, then the selection process is simple and quick, but participants cannot make informed predictions based on player performance
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-assigning player names to grid positions and making this information available to participants before selection. This allows participants to make informed predictions based on player statistics and performance history while maintaining the straightforward box-selection interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The grid structure serves as an intermediary between player performance data and participant predictions. Player names are assigned to rows and columns, creating a mapping system that translates complex performance data into a simple visual grid that participants can analyze and select from.
3Productivity
If random numbers are used to determine winning boxes, then the outcome is unpredictable and exciting, but the contest lacks strategic depth and player knowledge application
Solution Approach 1:
The grid acts as an intermediary that combines randomness with strategic analysis. While the final winning determination still involves random score assignment, the grid structure with player names enables participants to apply strategic thinking about player performance, team strength, and statistical trends in their selections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter from anonymous random numbers to named player identifiers. This transformation maintains the randomness of score assignment while adding the dimension of player knowledge and strategic analysis, allowing participants to evaluate different player combinations based on their understanding of athletic performance.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and apparatuses for managing contests that may be made available to one or more participants desiring to participate in a fantasy sports contest in which participants may use their knowledge of players and/or teams found in real-world sports. Participants are enabled to select one or more locations on a grid in order to participate in the contest, each location having been previously associated with two or more real-world players or teams. Participants may be able to select a wildcard player or team.