APPLICATION USAGE REWARDS PLATFORM

• US 20110313827A1
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lobb, Kenneth A., Cupala, Shiraz J., Wagner, Todd Garnet, Sterchi, Henry Charles
• Application Number:
  US12/821,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20110313827A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.12
• 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 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0231 Awarding of a frequent usage incentive independent of the monetary value of a good or service purchased, or distance travelled
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward

Abstract

A system and method of providing incentives for users to use computer applications. Application use by a user is tracked and participation credits are provided to the user based on the tracked use. Credits can be provided based on time of use and/or application based incentives, such as achievements in a game. A limit may be placed on the amount of credits a user may have at any time, inducing the user to redeem the tokens. Credit redemption is provided by redemption system which rewards users with prizes directly or based on a random generation of prize rewards under the guise of game play based on chance.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for to provide user incentives to application users, comprising:

tracking use of one or more applications by a user;

providing redemption credit based on the use tracked;

providing a selection of prize redemption scenarios, each scenario including a set of prizes suitable for use in one or more of the applications;

receiving a selection to use the reward redemption credit; and

issuing a prize in response to the use.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein tracking use comprises tracking time of use by the user of the one or more applications.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the one or more applications comprises a game and the prize comprises additional content for the same or a different game.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 3 wherein each game includes one or more achievement levels within the game, wherein the user may achieve a level rank in the game, and wherein the set of prizes is provided which is suitable to the users level rank in the game.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein each of the prize redemption scenario each scenario including a set of prizes suitable for use in one or more of the games, the prize redemption scenario including prizes suitable an application associated with the scenario, and further including receiving a selection of one of the prize redemption scenarios from the user.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the step of issuing a prize is perfumed randomly, and further including:

providing a redemption application, the redemption application presenting the user a random opportunity to receive a prize comprising a digital product upon redemption of the reward redemption token in the redemption; and

wherein said step of receiving a use comprises receiving a redemption through the redemption application.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 6 wherein randomly issuing a prize comprises presenting a game of chance in the application and issuing the digital product in response to a match between a random number generator and the use of the redemption token.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1 comprising providing a limit on an amount of tokens a user may acquire at one time.

9. A method rewarding users for use of a an application on a processing device, comprising:

tracking user participation in an application;

providing participation credit based on user participation in the application;

providing a selection of prize redemption scenarios, each scenario including a set of prizes suitable for use in the application and one or more additional applications;

receiving a selection of one or the prize redemption scenarios;

providing a redemption application, the redemption application presenting the user an opportunity to receive a prize upon redemption of the participation credit in the redemption application;

receiving a selection to use the participation credit; and

issuing a prize in response to the use.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 9 wherein tracking use comprises tracking time of use by the user of the one or more applications.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 10 wherein issuing a prize comprises randomly issuing a prize in a redemption application having a chance-based motif.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 11 comprising providing a limit on an amount of credit a user may acquire at one time.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 12 wherein the step of providing a selection of prize redemption scenarios includes providing a set of prizes suitable for use in other applications accessible to the user.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 13 wherein each application includes one or more achievement levels within the application, wherein the user may achieve a level rank in the game, and wherein the set of prizes is provided which is suitable to the users level rank in the game.

15. A computer readable medium including instructions for directing a processor to perform a method comprising:

registering one or more applications;

receiving usage information regarding the one or more applications;

providing reward redemption credit to a user based on use of the one or more applications by the user;

selecting a prize set of digital content appropriate for the user based on the user level relative to the digital content;

receiving a selection to use a reward redemption credit from the user;

randomly issuing a digital product in response to the token.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein use comprises one of:

time of use by a user of one or more applications, or a combination of time of use by a user of one or more applications and application based incentives.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein providing reward redemption tokens is limited for a total number of tokens per user at one time.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further including providing a selection of prize redemption scenarios including digital content associated with the one or more applications.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further including receiving one or more applications from a developer and receiving one or more prize sets of digital content from the developer.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further including providing a redemption application, the redemption application presenting an interface to receive the reward redemption token user from the user and present an interface indicating issuance or non-issuance of the digital product.