Interactive gaming systems and methods

• US 10,173,140 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2016
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Van Briggle, Christopher Ryan, Johnson, Christopher Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): HARPER, TRAMAR YONG
• Application Number:
  US15/381,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20170189816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Provided is an interactive gaming system and method. The system includes a mobile computing device operating a gaming application and an achievement engine communicatively coupled to the mobile computing device, wherein the achievement engine receives and stores data related to use of the gaming application. An electronic offer redeemable in a physical store is generated by the achievement engine and sent to the mobile computing device in response to a user completing a predetermined event in the gaming application operating. The system includes a tracking system located in a store associated with the interactive gaming system. The tracking system identifies the mobile computing device operating in the store and sends event data to the achievement engine in response to determining the user has performed an in-store trigger event. The mobile computing device receives gaming benefits in response to the achievement engine processing the event data received from the tracking system.

Claims

1. An interactive gaming system comprising:

a mobile computing device operating a gaming application;

an achievement engine communicatively coupled to the mobile computing device, wherein the achievement engine receives and stores data related to use of the gaming application;

an electronic offer generated by the achievement engine and sent to the mobile computing device in response to a user completing a predetermined event in the gaming application operating on the mobile computing device, wherein the electronic offer is redeemable in a physical store associated with the interactive gaming system; and

a tracking system communicatively coupled to the achievement engine, the tracking system located in the physical store associated with the interactive gaming system, wherein;

the tracking system includes a Wi-fi beacon to identify the mobile computing device operating the gaming application in the store, communicates with the mobile computing device to receive a location of the mobile computing device within the physical store associated with the interactive gaming system and sends event data to the achievement engine in response to determining the user has performed an in-store process resulting in a triggered event, wherein the achievement engine;

determines if the triggered event is a qualifying event and records the same in a memory of the achievement engine;

operates rule based aggregation/counter software in order to determine an achievement associated with the qualifying event; and

triggers an achievement, wherein the triggered achievement is then communicated to the mobile computing device related to the in-store process;

the mobile computing device operating the gaming application receives gaming benefits for use in the gaming application in response to the achievement engine processing the event data received from the tracking system; and

the achievement engine automatically determines additional electronic offers available to send to the mobile computing device in response to processing location information from the mobile computing device including the location of the mobile computing device within the physical store associated with the interactive gaming system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the tracking system receives GPS data from the mobile computing device operating the gaming application, wherein the GPS data is used by the tracking system to determine that the mobile computing device is within the store.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the tracking system includes a Bluetooth beacon, wherein the Bluetooth beacon communicates with the mobile computing device to determine the location of the mobile computing device within the store.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the event data is a purchase of a predetermined item.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the event data is operating a self-checkout a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time frame.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the achievement engine receives location information from the mobile computing device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the gaming benefits comprise unlocking access and providing use of predetermined game features, providing increased gaming ability, and combinations thereof.

8. A method of using an interactive gaming system, the method comprising:

operating a gaming application installed on a mobile computing device;

communicating data related to operation of the gaming application to an achievement engine communicatively coupled to the mobile computing device;

storing the data related to operation of the gaming application in memory of the achievement engine;

automatically generating an electronic offer by the achievement engine and delivering the electronic offer to the mobile computing device in response to completing a predetermined event in the gaming application, wherein the electronic offer is redeemable in a physical store associated with the interactive gaming system;

determining by a tracking system that the mobile computing device operating the gaming application is within the physical store associated with the interactive gaming system;

sending event data to the achievement engine in response to determining the user has performed an in-store process resulting in a triggered event, wherein the achievement engine;

determines if the triggered event is a qualifying event and records the same in a memory of the achievement engine;

operates rule based aggregation/counter software in order to determine an achievement associated with the qualifying event; and

triggers an achievement, wherein the triggered achievement is then communicated to the mobile computing device related to the in-store process;

receiving gaming benefits at the mobile computing device operating the gaming application gaming benefits for use in the gaming application in response to the achievement engine processing the event data received from the tracking system;

receiving location information of the mobile computing device, including receiving Wi-Fi beacon data to determine a location of the mobile computing device within the physical store associated with the interactive gaming system at the achievement engine; and

automatically determining by the achievement engine additional electronic offers available to send to the mobile computing device in response to processing the location information from the mobile computing device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the tracking system receives GPS data from the mobile computing device operating the gaming application to determine the location of the mobile computing device within the store.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the tracking system receives a Bluetooth beacon data to determine the location of the mobile computing device within the store.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein sending event data comprises sending data related to a purchase of a predetermined item.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein sending event data comprises sending data related to operating a self-checkout a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time frame.