METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONDUCTING OR FACILITATING A PROMOTION

• US 20060224456A1
• Filed: 06/19/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Andrew P. Golden, Geoffrey M. Gelman, James Jorasch, Jay S. Walker, Keith Bemer, Peter Kim, Scott B. Allison, Timothy A. Palmer
• Original Assignee: Andrew P. Golden, Geoffrey M. Gelman, James Jorasch, Jay S. Walker, Keith Bemer, Peter Kim, Scott B. Allison, Timothy A. Palmer
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Palmer, Timothy A., WALKER, JAY S., Kim, Peter, Golden, Andrew P., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Bemer, Keith, Allison, Scott B.
• Application Number:
  US11/425,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20060224456A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.100
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/49 Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0213 Consumer transaction fees
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0248 Avoiding fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A method and apparatus for conducting a promotion and for distributing promotions to potential users provide a merchant or promotion organizer flexibility in the way they conduct the promotion as well as an ability to change one or more aspects of the promotion during the operation of the promotion. One or more outcomes are generated by a controller and provided to a user. In addition, one or more codes which allow the outcomes to be revealed or unlocked are generated by the controller and provided to an intermediary. In exchange for completing or satisfying a qualifying action or criteria, the user may receive a code from the intermediary. The user can then unlock an outcome to reveal a prize, benefit, symbol, value, etc., associated with the unlocked outcome. The user may provide a redemption request to either the controller or the intermediary based on the unlocked outcome to receive a benefit or prize associated with the unlocked outcome.

Claims

1. A method for conducting a promotion, comprising:

generating an outcome;

generating an unlock code capable of unlocking said outcome;

providing an indication of said outcome;

providing an indication of said unlock code; and

providing an indication of a benefit associated with said outcome.

2-162. -162. (canceled)