Methods and Systems for Updating In-Game Content

• US 20090007186A1
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flip Phone Games, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gosub 60, Inc.
• Inventors: Hartwell, Joshua
• Granted Patent: US 9,731,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/62
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/525 Changing parameters of virtual cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6009 for importing or creating game content, e.g. authoring tools during game development, adapting content to different platforms, use of a scripting language to create content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 : Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 : adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels

Abstract

Systems and methods for updating content of a mobile video game allow for mobile communication devices to receive updated content for video games that operate on the devices. The updates may be promotional in nature, and may be pre-selected based on the device type, service, or service provider. The game may contain instructions that cause the mobile communication device to contact an interface and/or server to receive updated content. After the updated content is received by the mobile communication device, the content may be displayed in-game. The user of the mobile communication device may be provided with one or more options that affect the frequency or ability to receive or display updated content. In addition, the server may track what content has already been received by the mobile communication device.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device that provides updated content associated with a mobile video game, comprising:

a screen for viewing by the user;

a processor; and

a memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communications device to;

contact a server;

check for updated content for use in the mobile video game;

download the updated content to the mobile communication device from the server; and

display the updated content within the video game, the video game being presented on the screen.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the updated content is promotional content.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 2, wherein the promotional content is pre-selected for the mobile communication device based upon at least one of the factors including a type of mobile communication device, a telecom service associated with the mobile communication device, and a service provider of the telecom service.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the content is displayed within the mobile video game at a location on the screen based on user interaction with the mobile communication device.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein checking for updated content is performed upon a request by a user of the mobile communication device.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein checking for updated content is performed periodically.

7. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the instructions further allow the mobile communication device to receive an initial message from the server prior to downloading the updated content.

8. The mobile communication device of claim 7, wherein the initial message contains information that is displayed to the user on the screen.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 7, wherein the initial message is pre-selected based upon at least one of the factors including a type of the mobile communication device, a telecommunication service, subscription associated with the mobile communication device, and a service provider of the telecommunication service.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 7, wherein the communications device sends a follow-up request to the server indicating that the user wishes to download the updated content from the server;

and

the communications device downloads the updated content after sending the follow-up request.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the mobile communication device to check whether the updated content should be downloaded before downloading the updated content from the server.

12. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for execution by a mobile communication device, the instructions causing the mobile communication device to perform a method that provides updated content associated with a mobile video game, the method comprising the steps of:

contacting a server;

checking for updated content for use in the video game;

downloading the updated content to the communications device; and

displaying the updated content within the video game, the video game being presented within a screen controlled by the mobile communication device.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the updated content is promotional content.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the promotional is pre-selected for the mobile communication device based upon at least one of the factors including a type of the mobile communication device, a telecom service associated with the mobile communication device, and a service provider of the telecom service.

15. A method for providing updated content to a mobile communication device for use in a mobile video game, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for the updated content from the mobile communication device, the updated content being usable in the video-game that already exists on the mobile communication device;

checking what updated content to send based on one of the factors including a type of the mobile communication device, a telecom service associated with the mobile communication device, and a service provider of the telecom service; and

uploading updated content to the communications device, the content being usable when the video game operates on the communications device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the updated content is promotional content.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of checking whether the communications device should receive the updated content before uploading the updated content to the communications device.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of sending information to the mobile communication device as part of the updated content, the information providing an in-game placement location associated with the updated content.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of tracking what has been uploaded to the mobile communication device.

20. A system for providing updated content associated with of a mobile video game to a mobile communication device, the system comprising:

a storage medium for storing pre-selected content for use in a video game;

a server in communication with the storage medium; and

an interface coupled to the server and a network, wherein the interface receives a request for updated content from the mobile communication device over the network;

wherein the server is operative to receive the request through the interface and utilize the request to;

check what pre-selected content to send; and

send the pre-selected content stored on the storage medium to the mobile communication device as the updated content for the mobile video game.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the updated content is promotional content.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the server sends information to the mobile communication device regarding the in-game placement location of the content, the information being part of the updated content.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the server sends a message to the mobile communication device in response to receiving the request, the message relating to the content.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the message is pre-selected by the server based on a model type associated with the communications device, a service subscription associated with the communications device, or a service provider for the service subscription associated with the communications device.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the server checks whether the mobile communication device should receive the updated content before sending the updated content to the communications device.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the server tracks the distribution of updated content.

27. A method for selling promotional content in a mobile video game for use on a mobile communications device, comprising the steps of:

associating updated content with a third party in exchange for payment from the third party;

receiving a request for updated content from the mobile communication device; and

uploading the updated content to the mobile communication device, the updated content being displayable within the mobile video game.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the payment is based on the number of times that the updated content is uploaded.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the updated content is pre-selected based on the proximity of the mobile communications device to a physical location associated with the third party.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the request is received in response to a change in the proximity of the mobile communications device to the location associated with the third party.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein payment is based on the length of time the updated content is available for download.