System and method for consumer-selected advertising and branding in interactive media

• US 20050216346A1
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Slingshot Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Avatizing LLC
• Inventors: Sigler, Sonya Lee, Kusumoto, Laura Lee, Sacerdoti, Earl David, Sigler, Leila Janine
• Granted Patent: US 7,797,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.120
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0213 Consumer transaction fees
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0217 involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0219 based on funds or budget
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

Participants in an interactive environment implemented by computer networks and other media such as interactive television are recruited to advertise products and brands to the other participants and viewers that are users of the media. Each participant may select from a set of available advertisements, which can be displayed in association with the user'"'"'s avatar, virtual space and virtual objects within or embodying the virtual world. Participants are given incentives to do this by the availability of rewards, such as coupons, real or virtual money or other resources, which are provided by the advertising sponsors, based on adoption of the advertising by the participant, as well as on factors such as exposure of the selected advertisements to other users. Allowing the users to exercise advertising choice, as participant or viewer, the invention also facilitates collection of data regarding consumer preferences.

Claims

1. :

A machine readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a method for selected advertising using a virtual world, the method comprising;

providing an advertisement group to a participant, wherein said advertisement group consists of at least one of an advertisement, one or more advertisements of one or more categories, or one or more advertisements of one or more advertisement profiles;

receiving a selection of said advertisement group from said participant;

when a plurality of locations exists, providing said plurality of locations for said participant to choose to present said advertisement group using said virtual world and receiving a selection of one or more locations from said plurality of locations from said participant;

when only one location exists, selecting said one location;

creating a selected advertisement group from said selection of said advertisement group and, when there are said plurality of locations, said selection of said one or more locations;

storing said selected advertisement group;

providing for presentation to a user of said selected advertisement group using said virtual world, wherein said users have access to said virtual world; and

providing a reward to at least said participant, wherein said reward is based on at least said creating a selected advertisement group.

2. :

The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein said advertisement group and said plurality of locations is provided using at least one of i) said virtual world or ii) an ancillary support environment, wherein said ancillary support environment includes one or more interfaces for exchanging information and choices.

3. :

The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein providing a reward comprises;

tracking one or more interactions with said selected advertisement group by said user; and

providing a reward to at least said participant, wherein said reward is based on at least said one or more interactions.

4. :

The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein said reward includes at least one of coupons, merchandise, credits, goods, services, information about said virtual world, information about real world events, opportunities in said virtual world, real money, or virtual money.

5. :

The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising;

creating a consumer profile for said participant, wherein said consumer profile includes at least one of (a) registration information, (b) environment continuation information to allow said participant to continue where said participant previously left in said virtual world, (c) information on one or more said selected advertisement groups of said participant, (d) information on said selection of said advertisement group, or (e) information on said at least one selection of said one or more locations, or (f) reward information.

6. :

The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein said category includes type of product, brand, vendor, company, a specific product, products relevant to a specific activity or interest, or advertisements of a specific advertiser.

7. :

The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein said advertisement profile includes a plurality of said advertisements selected from one or more categories.

8. :

The machine readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein said advertisement profile is provided by said participant.

9. :

The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein said virtual world includes media presented on mobile devices, streaming video, streaming audio, radio, television, voice portal, web site, web meeting or information presentation environment.

10. :

The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein said storing uses a computer, an off-line storage medium, or a portable device.

11. :

The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein said ancillary support environment includes electronic mail, web browser, online agent, instant messaging, paging, text messaging, or short message service.

12. :

The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein said advertisement includes a logo, name, commercial symbol, virtual object associated with an advertiser, audio, video, or banner.

13. :

The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein said location includes a wearable display, a game piece, a game card, a game element, a display controlled or influenced by said participant, a web page, a time slot in an audio or video stream, radio or television broadcast, on-hold audio message, real world clothing, dress, sticker, billboard, poster, vending machine, programmable paper, or media projected onto a real-world space.

14. :

The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein said reward includes contest clues, licensing fees or royalty fees.

15. :

The machine readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein said one or more interactions include increasing said reward when aspects of said virtual world are shared using said advertisement group, tracking click events and click-through events, or transferring aspects of said virtual world to another medium.

16. :

The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein said reward is also paid to an advertiser or a sponsor.

17. :

The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising;

charging a fee to said participant based on said selected advertisement group.

18. :

The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein said providing for presentation occurs at user-selected places and times or at places and times determined by at least sensors that provide information indicating said user'"'"'s actions or said user'"'"'s location.

19. :

The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising;

aggregating said selection, after said receiving said selection of said advertisement group, based on at least one of i) a count of said advertisement group or ii) a count of said participants.

20. A method for selected advertising using a virtual world, comprising:

providing an advertisement group to a participant, wherein said advertisement group consists of at least one of an advertisement, one or more advertisements of one or more categories, or one or more advertisements of one or more advertisement profiles;

receiving a selection of said advertisement group from said participant;

when a plurality of locations exists, providing said plurality of locations for said participant to choose to present said advertisement group using said virtual world and receiving a selection of one or more locations from said plurality of locations from said participant;

when only one location exists, selecting said one location;

creating a selected advertisement group from said selection of said advertisement group and, when there are said plurality of locations, said selection of said one or more locations;

storing said selected advertisement group;

providing for presentation to a user of said selected advertisement group using said virtual world, wherein said users have access to said virtual world; and

providing a reward to at least said participant, wherein said reward is based on at least said creating a selected advertisement group.

21. A system for selected advertising using a virtual world, comprising:

first means for providing an advertisement group to a participant, wherein said advertisement group consists of at least one of an advertisement, one or more advertisements of one or more categories, or one or more advertisements of one or more advertisement profiles;

first means for receiving a selection of said advertisement group from said participant;

when a plurality of locations exists, second means for providing said plurality of locations for said participant to choose to present said advertisement group using said virtual world and second means for receiving a selection of one or more locations from said plurality of locations from said participant;

when only one location exists, first means for selecting said one location;

first means for creating a selected advertisement group from said selection of said advertisement group and, when there are said plurality of locations, said selection of said one or more locations;

first means for storing said selected advertisement group;

third means for providing for presentation to a user of said selected advertisement group using said virtual world, wherein said users have access to said virtual world; and

fourth means for providing a reward to at least said participant, wherein said reward is based on at least said creating a selected advertisement group.