METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENCODED INFORMATION PROCESSING

• US 20090312105A1
• Filed: 06/18/2009
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advocado, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Koplar Interactive Systems International, LLC
• Inventors: Koplar, Edward J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,961,324 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/55 Details of game data or player data management
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/554 by saving game or status data
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/558 by assessing the players' skills or ranking
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5593 involving scheduling aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8064 Quiz
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1408 the method being specifically adapted for the type of code

Abstract

Methods and system for encoded information processing are described. In one embodiment, an encoded pattern may be optically detected from source media. Gaming data and associated synchronization data may be decoded from the encoded pattern. The gaming data may be synchronized for use during gaming based on the synchronization data. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

optically detecting an encoded pattern from source media, the encoded pattern associated with a gaming application;

decoding gaming data from the encoded pattern;

synchronizing the gaming data with the gaming application;

presenting device content based on the synchronizing of the gaming data with the gaming application;

processing a plurality of gaming interactions from a user during presentation of the programming content and the presenting of the device content; and

enabling a promotional opportunity based on the processing of at least some of the plurality of gaming instructions.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a content signal from a signal source during the presentation of the programming content; and

determining whether the content signal includes a trigger,

wherein the synchronizing of the gaming data with the gaming application is based on a determination that the content signal includes the trigger.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the synchronizing the gaming data with the gaming application enables real-time play of the gaming application with the presentation of the programming content.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the gaming application is a home-play version of a game presented by the programming content.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the content signal is a video signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the gaming application from a gaming provider.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabling of the promotional opportunity comprises:

providing a result of the processing of the plurality of gaming instructions to a gaming provider; and

receiving the promotional opportunity from the gaming provider.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the promotional opportunity includes continued play of the game, redeemable points, or combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the encoded pattern is a bar code.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming data is puzzle data, map data character data, weapon data, or combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming data alters game play of the gaming application when synchronized with the gaming application.

13. A method comprising:

optically detecting an encoded pattern from source media, the encoded pattern associated with a gaming application;

decoding gaming data from the encoded pattern;

synchronizing the gaming data with the gaming application;

presenting device content based on the synchronizing of the gaming data with the gaming application;

processing a plurality of gaming interactions from a user during the presentation of the programming content and the presenting of the device content; and

enabling a promotional opportunity based on the processing of at least some of the plurality of gaming instructions.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the source media includes electronic media.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the encoded pattern is visible to an ordinary viewer of the source media.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the promotional opportunity includes an electronic coupon.

17. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the following operations:

optically detect an encoded pattern from source media, the encoded pattern associated with a gaming application;

decode gaming data from the encoded pattern;

synchronize the gaming data with the gaming application;

present device content based on the synchronizing of the gaming data with the gaming application;

process a plurality of gaming interactions from a user during presentation of the programming content and the device content; and

enable a promotional opportunity based on processing of at least some of the plurality of gaming instructions.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17 further comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more processors perform the following operations:

receiving a content signal from a signal source during the presentation of the programming content; and

determining whether the content signal includes a trigger,

wherein the synchronizing of the gaming data with the gaming application is based on a determination that the content signal includes the trigger.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein synchronization of the gaming data with the gaming application enables real-time play of the gaming application with the presentation of the programming content.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the gaming application is a home-play version of a game presented by the programming content.