Computing environment transaction system to transact purchases of objects incorporated into games
First Claim
1. A method, of managing operation of a networked game that includes a game environment, the method employing a programmed computing device coupled to a network, the computing device programmed to control a networked game play of a user, the computing device comprising a programmed processor configured to execute computer executable instructions stored in one or more memory devices to effect actions comprising:
- maintaining, by the computing device, a user profile for the user;
tracking, by the computing device, activity of the user profile associated with the user during play of the networked game occurring in the game environment;
enabling, by the computing device, the networked game to display in the game environment a plurality of game objects that respectively have displayed prices;
maintaining, by the computing device, a user account associated with the user profile;
activating, by the computing device, the user account to use a currency outside of the networked game to increase a balance of the user account;
determining, by the computing device, that the user account is qualified to obtain one of the plurality of the displayed game objects, dependent upon data comprising;
the tracked activity of the user profile, andwhether the balance of the user account is sufficient to obtain the game object at the displayed price; and
in response to determining that the user profile is qualified to obtain the game object;
activating, by the computing device, the user profile to obtain the game object at the displayed price without leaving the play of the networked game;
determining whether the game object is being purchased from a store in the networked game that has a corresponding physical store outside of the networked game;
in response determining that the game object is being purchased from the store in the networked game that has the corresponding physical store outside of the networked game, placing an order for the game object at the physical store outside of the networked game for delivery to a physical location associated with the user profile; and
in response determining that the game object is being purchased from the store in the networked game that does not have the corresponding physical store outside of the networked game, activating, by the computing device, the user profile to incorporate the game object into the play of the networked game.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and methods allowing the creation, integration, and transaction of rule circumventions and/or interactive advertisements in computing environments is provided. In an illustrative implementation, the present invention comprises a core transaction server, a multimedia transaction server, and browser application. A computing environment cooperates with the core transaction server to obtain data representative of computing environment rule circumventions for integration within the computing environment as well as computing environment circumvention transaction information. The core transaction server cooperates with the multimedia transaction server to obtain data representative of the desired computing environment rule circumvention and with the browser application to obtain inputs from computing environment to establish accounts for use when transacting computing environment rule circumvention transactions.
433 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method, of managing operation of a networked game that includes a game environment, the method employing a programmed computing device coupled to a network, the computing device programmed to control a networked game play of a user, the computing device comprising a programmed processor configured to execute computer executable instructions stored in one or more memory devices to effect actions comprising:
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maintaining, by the computing device, a user profile for the user; tracking, by the computing device, activity of the user profile associated with the user during play of the networked game occurring in the game environment; enabling, by the computing device, the networked game to display in the game environment a plurality of game objects that respectively have displayed prices; maintaining, by the computing device, a user account associated with the user profile; activating, by the computing device, the user account to use a currency outside of the networked game to increase a balance of the user account; determining, by the computing device, that the user account is qualified to obtain one of the plurality of the displayed game objects, dependent upon data comprising; the tracked activity of the user profile, and whether the balance of the user account is sufficient to obtain the game object at the displayed price; and
in response to determining that the user profile is qualified to obtain the game object;activating, by the computing device, the user profile to obtain the game object at the displayed price without leaving the play of the networked game; determining whether the game object is being purchased from a store in the networked game that has a corresponding physical store outside of the networked game; in response determining that the game object is being purchased from the store in the networked game that has the corresponding physical store outside of the networked game, placing an order for the game object at the physical store outside of the networked game for delivery to a physical location associated with the user profile; and in response determining that the game object is being purchased from the store in the networked game that does not have the corresponding physical store outside of the networked game, activating, by the computing device, the user profile to incorporate the game object into the play of the networked game. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for managing operation of a game which includes a game environment, the apparatus comprising a programmed computer coupled to a network and programmed to control a networked gaming action of a user, the computer comprising a programmed processor configured to execute software instructions stored in one or more memory devices, comprising:
a game transaction component configured to; maintain a user profile for the user; track activity of the user profile during play of the game in the game environment; enable the networked game to display in the game environment a plurality of game objects that respectively have displayed prices; maintain a user account associated with the user profile; activate the user account to use a currency outside of the networked game to increase a balance of the user account; determine that the user profile is qualified to obtain one of the plurality of the displayed game objects, dependent upon data comprising; the tracked activity of the user profile, and whether the balance of the user account is sufficient to obtain the game object at the displayed price; and in response to a determination that the user profile is qualified to obtain the game object; activate the user profile to obtain the game object at the displayed price without leaving the networked game; determine whether the game object is being purchased from a store in the networked game that has a corresponding physical store outside of the networked game; in response to a determination that the game object is being purchased from the store in the networked game that has the corresponding physical store outside of the networked game, placing an order for the game object at the physical store outside of the networked game for delivery to a physical location associated with the user profile; and in response to a determination that the game object is being purchased from the store in the networked game that does not have the corresponding physical store outside of the networked game, activate the user account to incorporate the game object into the networked gaming action. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution, cause at least one device including a processor to perform operations comprising:
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maintaining a user profile for a user; tracking activity of the user profile during play of a networked game in a game environment; enabling the networked game to display in the game environment a plurality of game objects, wherein respective game objects have displayed prices; maintaining a user account associated with the user profile; activating the user account to use a currency outside of the networked game to add to a balance of the user account; determining that the user profile is qualified to obtain one of the plurality of the displayed game objects, dependent upon data comprising; the tracked activity of user profile, and whether the balance of the user account is sufficient to obtain the game object at the displayed price; and
in response to determining that the user profile is qualified to obtain the game object;activating the user profile to obtain the game object at the displayed price without leaving the play of the networked game; determining whether the game object is being purchased from a store in the networked game that has a corresponding physical store outside of the networked game; in response determining that the game object is being purchased from the store in the networked game that has the corresponding physical store outside of the networked game, placing an order for the game object at the physical store outside of the networked game for delivery to a physical location associated with the user profile; and in response determining that the game object is being purchased from the store in the networked game that does not have the corresponding physical store outside of the networked game, activating the user profile to incorporate the game object into the play of the networked game. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus, comprising:
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a processor; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein computer-executable components, comprising; a game transaction component configured to; maintain a user profile for a user; track activity of the user profile during play of a networked game in a game environment; display in the game environment a plurality of game objects that respectively have displayed prices; maintain a user account associated with the user profile; receive a first user input associated with the user account indicating to use a currency outside of the networked game to increase a balance of the user account; determine that the user profile is qualified to obtain one of the plurality of displayed game objects, dependent upon data comprising; the tracked activity of the user profile, and whether the balance of the user account is sufficient to obtain the game object at the displayed price; and in response to a determination that the user profile is qualified to obtain the game object and receiving a second user input associated with the user account indicating selection to purchase the game object; determining whether the game object is being purchased from a store in the networked game that has a corresponding physical store outside of the networked game; in response to a determination that the game object is being purchased from the store in the networked game that has the corresponding physical store outside of the networked game, place an order for the game object at the physical store outside of the networked game for delivery to a physical location associated with the user profile while the play of the networked game continues; and in response to a determination that the game object is being purchased from the store in the networked game that does not have the corresponding physical store outside of the networked game, provide the game object to the user profile within the game environment at the displayed price while the play of the networked game continues, and incorporate the game object into the gaming action while the play of the networked game continues. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution, cause at least one device including a processor to perform operations comprising:
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maintaining a user profile; tracking activity of the user profile during play of a networked game in a game environment; displaying in the game environment a plurality of game objects that respectively have displayed prices; maintaining an account associated with the user profile; receiving a first user input associated with the user account indicating to use a currency outside of the networked game to increase a balance of the user account; determining that the user profile is qualified to obtain one the plurality of displayed game objects, dependent upon data comprising; the tracked activity of the user profile, and whether the balance of the user account is sufficient to obtain the game object at the displayed price; and in response to determining that the user profile is qualified to obtain the game object and receiving a second user input associated with the user account indicating selection to purchase the game object; determining whether the game object is being purchased from a store in the networked game that has a corresponding physical store outside of the networked game; in response determining that the game object is being purchased from the store in the networked game that has the corresponding physical store outside of the networked game, placing an order for the game object at the physical store outside of the networked game for delivery to a physical location associated with the user profile while the play of the networked game continues; and in response determining that the game object is being purchased from the store in the networked game that does not have the corresponding physical store outside of the networked game, providing the game object to the user within the game environment at the displayed price while the play of the networked game continues, and incorporating the game object into the gaming while the play of the networked game continues. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A method, comprising:
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maintaining, by a device including a processor, a user profile; tracking, by the device, activity of the user profile during play of a networked game in a game environment; displaying, by the device, in the game environment a plurality of game objects that respectively have displayed prices; maintaining, by the device, a user account associated with the user profile; receiving, by the device, a first user input associated with the user account indicating to use a currency outside of the networked game to increase a balance of the account; determining, by the device, that the user profile is qualified to obtain one the plurality of displayed game objects, dependent upon data comprising; the tracked activity of the user profile, and whether the balance of the user account is sufficient to obtain the game object at the displayed price; and in response to determining that the user profile is qualified to obtain the game object and receiving a second user input associated with the user account indicating selection to purchase the game object; determining whether the game object is being purchased from a store in the networked game that has a corresponding physical store outside of the networked game; in response determining that the game object is being purchased from the store in the networked game that has the corresponding physical store outside of the networked game, placing an order for the game object at the physical store outside of the networked game for delivery to a physical location associated with the user profile while the play of the networked game continues; and in response determining that the game object is being purchased from the store in the networked game that does not have the corresponding physical store outside of the networked game, providing, by the device, the game object to the user profile within the game environment at the displayed price while the play of the networked game continues, and incorporating, by the device, the game object into the gaming while the play of the networked game continues.
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Specification