Apparatuses, Methods and Systems for a Multi-Level In-Game Currency Platform

• US 20120015714A1
• Filed: 09/26/2011
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Ocko, Matthew, Singh, Sim
• Granted Patent: US 8,469,801 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/381 Currency conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

The APPARATUSES and METHODS FOR dynamic conversion of a transaction includes receiving a transaction request from a user, wherein the transaction request includes data related to a transaction and user characteristics of the user. The data associated with the transaction and the user is analyzed to determine if the user is eligible to request the transaction. When it is determined that the user is eligible for requesting the transaction, identifying a payment currency for the requested transaction, computing dynamic conversion rate for converting the payment currency to the requested virtual currency, and calculating a purchase price in terms of the payment currency for the requested virtual currency of the transaction request using the dynamic conversion rate, the purchase price is used in completing the transaction request.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a processor for dynamic conversion of a transaction, the method comprising:

receiving a transaction request from a user, wherein the transaction request includes data related to a transaction and user characteristics of the user, the transaction request includes information for crediting an account of the user with a requested virtual currency;

analyzing data associated with the transaction and the user to determine if the user is eligible to request the transaction;

when the user is eligible for requesting the transaction,

identifying a payment currency for the requested transaction;

computing dynamic conversion rate for converting the payment currency to the requested virtual currency; and

calculating a purchase price in terms of the payment currency for the requested virtual currency of the transaction request using the dynamic conversion rate, the purchase price used in completing the transaction request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing data further includes,

retrieving data associated with the user, data related to the virtual currency and data related to a game associated with the transaction request;

and

analyzing the retrieved data to determine user eligibility for requesting the transaction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein computing dynamic conversion rate includes,

identifying currency type of the payment currency;

determining currency type of the requested virtual currency;

verifying to see if the payment currency can be converted to the requested virtual currency based on the currency types of the payment currency and the requested virtual currency; and

calculating dynamic conversion rate for the conversion from payment currency to the requested virtual currency upon successfully verifying the conversion can be implemented.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein computing dynamic conversion rate includes computing dynamic conversion rate of a plurality of virtual currencies so as to enable conversion of the payment currency first to one or more of the plurality of virtual currencies and from anyone of the plurality of virtual currencies to the requested virtual currency,

wherein computing of dynamic conversion rates of the plurality of virtual currencies is after successful verification that payment currency can be converted to the plurality of virtual currencies and wherein the purchase price for the requested virtual currency is calculated using the dynamic conversion rate of the one or more of the plurality of virtual currencies.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the currency type of the payment currency is one of real currency or a type of virtual currency that is different from the requested virtual currency and wherein the currency type of the requested virtual currency is one of an ordinary virtual currency or a special virtual currency

6. The method of claim 3, wherein computing dynamic conversion rate further includes,

retrieving a base conversion rate for converting between the payment currency and the requested virtual currency based on the currency type of the payment currency and the requested virtual currency;

identifying, via a processor, a user characteristic indicative of the user'"'"'s progress through a game that affects the base conversion rate;

calculating, via a processor, a game progression adjustment to the base conversion rate due to the identified user characteristic; and

calculating, via a processor, the dynamic conversion rate by adjusting the base conversion rate with the game progression adjustment.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the game progression adjustment is dynamically adjusted over a course of the game based on the user'"'"'s dynamic progression through the game.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein computing dynamic conversion rate further includes,

determining conversion channel used by the user for the transaction request;

identifying conversion rate associated with the conversion channel; and

calculating conversion channel adjustment to the base conversion rate using the conversion rate associated with the conversion channel.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the conversion rates associated with the conversion channel is determined by game logic rules.

10. A method for dynamic conversion of a transaction implemented by a processor, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a user to convert a payment virtual currency of a first type to a requested virtual currency of a second type, wherein the request includes data related to a transaction and information associated with the user, the request is for crediting a user'"'"'s account with the requested virtual currency, wherein the payment virtual currency is a reward or transfer;

verifying to see if the user is eligible to receive the payment virtual currency as a reward or transfer, wherein the user eligibility is based on type of transaction and predetermined logic rules;

analyzing data associated with the transaction and the user to determine if the payment virtual currency can be converted to requested virtual currency and if the user is eligible to convert the payment virtual currency to the requested virtual currency;

computing dynamic conversion rate for converting the payment virtual currency to the requested virtual currency; and

calculating a purchase price for the requested virtual currency of the request using the computed dynamic conversion rate

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the payment virtual currency is a credit virtual currency, virtual currency of the second type or real currency, the payment virtual currency obtained as an award or is a transfer, wherein the award is provided periodically, upon fulfilling an incentive or upon occurrence of an event, the incentive being one of an in-game incentive, inter-game incentive or a third party incentive, wherein the transfer is one of gift or game winning.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the analyzing data further includes,

obtaining in-game data, social graph data and other data associated with the user;

and

determining eligibility of the user to convert the payment virtual currency to the requested virtual currency based on user characteristic of the user captured in the in-game data, social graph data and other data.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein computing dynamic conversion rate includes,

identifying currency type of the payment virtual currency;

determining currency type of the requested virtual currency;

verifying to see if the payment virtual currency can be converted to the requested virtual currency based on the currency types of the payment virtual currency and the requested virtual currency; and

computing dynamic conversion rate for the conversion from payment virtual currency to the requested virtual currency upon successfully verifying the conversion can be implemented.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the currency type of the payment virtual currency is one of real currency or a type of virtual currency that is different from the requested virtual currency and wherein the currency type of the requested virtual currency is one of an ordinary virtual currency or a special virtual currency

15. The method of claim 13, wherein computing dynamic conversion rate further includes,

retrieving, via a processor, a base conversion rate for converting between the payment virtual currency and the requested virtual currency based on the currency type of the payment virtual currency and the requested virtual currency;

identifying, via a processor, a user characteristic indicative of the user'"'"'s progress through a game that affects the base conversion rate;

calculating, via a processor, a game progression adjustment to the base conversion rate due to the identified user characteristic; and

calculating, via a processor, the dynamic conversion rate by adjusting the base conversion rate with the game progression adjustment.

16. A processor-readable non-transitory storage medium storing instructions which when executed by the processor performs dynamic conversion of a transaction, the storage medium having instructions to:

receive a transaction request from a user, wherein the transaction request includes data related to a transaction and user characteristics of the user, the transaction request includes information for crediting an account of the user with a requested virtual currency;

analyze data associated with the transaction and the user to determine if the user is eligible to request the transaction;

when the user is eligible for requesting the transaction,

identify a payment currency for the requested transaction;

compute dynamic conversion rate for converting the payment currency to the requested virtual currency; and

calculate a purchase price in terms of the payment currency for the requested virtual currency of the transaction request using the dynamic conversion rate, the purchase price used in completing the transaction request.

17. The storage medium of claim 16, wherein instructions to compute dynamic conversion rate includes instructions to,

identify currency type of the payment currency;

determine currency type of the requested virtual currency;

verify to see if the payment currency can be converted to the requested virtual currency based on the currency types of the payment currency and the requested virtual currency; and

calculate dynamic conversion rate for the conversion from payment currency to the requested virtual currency upon successfully verifying the conversion can be implemented.

18. The storage medium of claim 16, wherein instructions to compute dynamic conversion rate includes instructions to,

compute dynamic conversion rate of a plurality of virtual currencies so as to enable conversion of the payment currency first to one or more of the plurality of virtual currencies and from anyone of the plurality of virtual currencies to the requested virtual currency,

wherein computing of dynamic conversion rates of the plurality of virtual currencies is after successful verification that payment currency can be converted to the plurality of virtual currencies and wherein the purchase price for the requested virtual currency is calculated using the dynamic conversion rate of the one or more of the plurality of virtual currencies.

19. The storage medium of claim 17, wherein the currency type of the payment currency is one of real currency or a type of virtual currency that is different from the requested virtual currency and wherein the currency type of the requested virtual currency is one of an ordinary virtual currency or a special virtual currency

20. The storage medium of claim 17, wherein instructions to compute dynamic conversion rate includes instructions to,

retrieve a base conversion rate for converting between the payment currency and the requested virtual currency based on the currency type of the payment currency and the requested virtual currency;

identify a user characteristic indicative of the user'"'"'s progress through a game that affects the base conversion rate;

calculate a game progression adjustment to the base conversion rate due to the identified user characteristic; and

calculate the dynamic conversion rate by adjusting the base conversion rate with the game progression adjustment.