System for implementing enhanced gaming and prizing parameters in an electronic environment

• US 10,650,635 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2019
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milestone Entertainment LLC
• Original Assignee: Milestone Entertainment LLC
• Inventors: Katz, Randall M., Dawson, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar, Omkar A
• Application Number:
  US16/594,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20200043289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 218 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

System and methods are provided for effecting user experience in an electronic game environment through use of virtual currency or vCoins. In a multi-level game, the systems and methods include memory for storing information on game play, the information including input received from the user, information relating to levels within the multi-level game and game display information for output to the user. A processor is coupled to the memory for generating game play information, preferably including game play with virtual money. The virtual money is acquired through game play or cash purchase. The virtual money is convertible into a non-cash good comprising advancement to another level within the game.

Claims

1. A system for effecting user experience on a user communication device in a multi-level electronic game environment comprising:

memory storing information on game play, the information including input received from the user, information relating to levels within the multi-level game and game display information for output to the user,

a processor coupled to the memory generating game play information,

the game play information including game play with virtual money,

the virtual money being acquired through;

(1) game play and

(2) cash purchase,

the virtual money acquired by cash purchase being subject to a multiplier, conversion of the virtual money into a non-cash good comprising an image to permit advancement to another level within the game, and

memory storing account information which is increased and decreased through the user experience.

2. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the non-cash good is an image to permit advancement to another level within the game.

3. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the virtual money comprises vCoins.

4. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the virtual money is further acquired by non-cash purchase.

5. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 4 wherein the non-cash purchase utilizes a credit.

6. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 4 wherein the non-cash purchase utilizes an inducement.

7. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 4 wherein the non-cash purchase utilizes a promotion.

8. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the virtual money is used for advancement to another level in the game.

9. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the multiplier is variable over time.

10. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the multiplier is variable based on player status.

11. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the virtual money may be converted to cash.

12. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein game play processor is a lottery processor.

13. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein memory stores association groupings for game play pairings.

14. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the game play information further includes a leader board.

15. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 further including a player registration system.

16. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 15 wherein the player registration is an on line registration system.

17. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 further including a game play analysis system.

18. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 17 wherein the game play analysis system tracks user specific play.

19. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 17 wherein the game play analysis system includes a decision engine to optimize the prizing structure.

20. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 17 wherein the game play analysis system includes a decision engine to maximize game play.

21. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 further including a game application to be downloaded to a communications device.

22. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 21 wherein the communications device is a wireless device.

23. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 22 wherein the wireless device is a hand-held wireless device including a display.

24. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the virtual money is cashable.

25. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the virtual money is not cashable.

26. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the virtual money expires after a period of time.

27. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the virtual money is awarded as a bonus.

28. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the multiplier is 100.

29. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the virtual money is tracked.