Network Service Recruitment Architecture
First Claim
1. A method for marketing a collection of casual games accessible over a network, the method comprising:
- enabling a first user to join, free of cost, a network of recruiters;
providing one or more recruitment tools to the first user to assist the first user in recruiting a second user to play one or more of the casual games;
identifying the second user as a recruit of the first user in an event that the second user plays one or more of the casual games within a specified time period; and
in an event that the second user purchases one or more of the casual games, distributing a portion of the revenue from the purchase to the first user.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network service recruitment architecture for marketing casual computer games, electronic greeting cards, or other similar electronic products delivered over a network is described. The architecture enables consumers to recruit other potential consumers to purchase or use such products delivered over the network. The recruiters are allowed to join a network of recruiters free of any start up fees or ongoing costs. When the recruiter successfully recruits a new consumer to purchase or play a game or send an electronic greeting card, a portion of any revenue generated by the consumer'"'"'s participation is distributed to the recruiter.
45 Citations
81 Claims
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1. A method for marketing a collection of casual games accessible over a network, the method comprising:
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enabling a first user to join, free of cost, a network of recruiters; providing one or more recruitment tools to the first user to assist the first user in recruiting a second user to play one or more of the casual games; identifying the second user as a recruit of the first user in an event that the second user plays one or more of the casual games within a specified time period; and in an event that the second user purchases one or more of the casual games, distributing a portion of the revenue from the purchase to the first user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method comprising:
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providing a casual game system having a collection of games that are at least one of playable over a network or downloadable over a network; and sharing, with a first consumer, revenue generated as a result of a second consumer playing one or more of the games, wherein the first consumer has recruited the second consumer. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A casual game system comprising:
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one or more casual games that are accessible via a website by a recruit; and a module to track revenue, collected from the recruit to play at least one of the casual games, for distribution according to a hierarchy such that a first recruiter that recruited the recruit and a second recruiter that did not directly recruit the recruit share in the revenue. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A method comprising:
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obtaining revenue received from consumers to play games that are accessible via a website of a casual game system; and determining, for each of the consumers, whether the consumer was recruited by another one of the consumers, and if so, sharing revenue with the other consumer resulting from the consumer playing the games. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method comprising:
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receiving revenue collected from a first consumer to play one or more games that are downloadable from or playable over a network from a service system for a fee; and using at least a portion of the revenue to play at least one of the games by a second consumer that recruited the first consumer. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method comprising:
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enabling consumers to purchase games that are accessible over a network at a website; providing at least one utility at the website that is accessible by a recruiter to recruit, free of cost, one or more users to play the games; and distributing, to the recruiter, a portion of a fee generated as a result of the one or more users playing the games. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. An apparatus comprising:
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a processor; and memory configured to maintain a list and a module that is executable on the processor to determine whether a fee to play a game available via the Internet from a service system was paid by a first consumer included in the list; and when the first consumer is included in the list, find a second consumer with which to share the paid fee. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. One or more computer readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computer to:
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receive inputs at one or more utilities to recruit consumers to play games over a network for a fee, wherein access to the utilities is provided free of cost; and share a portion of revenue collected from the consumers to play the games. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A method comprising:
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obtaining revenue received from consumers to send electronic greeting cards via a website; and determining, for each of the consumers, whether the consumer was recruited by another one of the consumers, and if so, sharing revenue with the other consumer resulting from the consumer sending the electronic greeting cards. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. One or more computer-readable memories comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform acts comprising:
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presenting a user interface that allows a user to join, free of charge, a network of recruiters; enabling the user, via the user interface, to specify a list of users to send electronic greeting cards from a system via a network; and allocating to the user a portion of the revenue collected from the users who send the electronic greeting cards. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. An apparatus comprising:
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a processor; and memory configured to maintain one or more electronic greeting cards to be communicated over a network and a module that is executable on the processor to; receive inputs sent via a network to join a network of recruiters, free of cost, to recruit users to send the electronic greeting cards; and share a portion of revenue collected from the recruited users to send the electronic greeting cards. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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Specification