Apparatus and Method with Physical Location Check-in that Triggers a Status Change in a Virtual Game

• US 20120196682A1
• Filed: 01/17/2012
• Published: 08/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wild Needle, Inc. (Zynga Incorporated)
• Inventors: Carson, Heidi Kay, Xu, Minglei, Chhabra, Puneet, Buell, Tanya Yin Wa, Kirmse, Christopher Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,663,014 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• 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 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/556 Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8094 Unusual game types, e.g. virtual cooking

Abstract

A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to receive a check-in indication from a physical location with a corresponding virtual location in a virtual game. An attribute in the virtual game is altered based upon the check-in indication. The attribute may be earned points for a user, a virtual object earned by a user or an enhanced popularity measure for the virtual location.

Claims

1. A computer readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions to:

receive a check-in indication from a physical location with a corresponding virtual location in a virtual game; and

alter an attribute in the virtual game based upon the check-in indication.

2. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the check-in indication includes physical location coordinates from a mobile device.

3. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the attribute is earned points for a user.

4. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the attribute is a virtual object earned by a user.

5. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the attribute is an enhanced popularity measure for the virtual location.

6. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the attribute is physical location liberator, which enables followers of a user to access released virtual goods at the virtual location without a physical location check-in.

7. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to supply a list of physically proximate establishments to a user.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7 wherein the executable instructions to supply a list include executable instructions to order the list in accordance with predetermined criteria selected from physical proximity, establishment popularity, establishment category and paid placement.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to assign in-game points for physical check-ins, port actions and referral actions.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to assign in-game physical check-in points in view of specified criteria selected from check-in distance, check-in frequency and check-in time of day.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to merge physical locations to form a merged virtual location with merged virtual game participants.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to splinter physical locations to form splintered virtual locations with splintered virtual game participants.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to accept a user-specified physical location to create a corresponding user-specified virtual location in the virtual game.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to accept requests to organize users into teams.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to specify privacy controls.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to define virtual advertisements in the virtual game.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to assign a popularity score to the virtual location.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to assign a popularity score to a user.