PROVIDING REWARDS TO USERS BASED ON THEIR LEVELS OF INFLUENCE OVER OTHER USERS

• US 20130006736A1
• Filed: 09/26/2011
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Amitt Mahajan, Erik Paul Bethke, Matthew Adam Ocko, Scott Koenigsberg
• Original Assignee: Amitt Mahajan, Erik Paul Bethke, Matthew Adam Ocko, Scott Koenigsberg
• Inventors: Bethke, Erik Paul, Koenigsberg, Scott, Mahajan, Amitt, Ocko, Matthew Adam
• Application Number:
  US13/244,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20130006736A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.12
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5378 for displaying an additional top view, e.g. radar screens or maps using two or more virtual cameras concurrently A63F13/5252
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• 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 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• 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 13/822 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 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• 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 2300/556 Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• 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 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 : constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 : Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information

Abstract

A method of providing rewards to users based on their levels of influence over other users is disclosed. A level of influence of a user of a system over other users of the system is determined. An incentive reward that is to be provided to the user based on a success of the user at influencing the other users to perform a location-based action within a time period is determined. The determining of the incentive reward is based on the level of influence of the user. A success of the user at influencing the other users to perform the location-based action is determined. A reward is provided to the user based on the determining of the success of the user at influencing the other users to perform the location-based action.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining a level of influence of a first user of a system over a group of users of the system based on a first level of a success, the first level of success being a level of success of the first user at influencing the group of users to perform a first location-based action within a time period;

determining a level of influence of a second user of the system over the group of users based on a second level of success, the second level of success being a level of success of the second user at influencing the group of users to perform the first location-based action within the time period;

selecting the first user based on the first level of influence being greater than the second level of influence; and

determining, using a processor, based on the selecting of the first user, that an incentive reward is to be provided to the first user in response to the first user performing a second location-based action.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the first level of success based on a number of the group of users that the first user influences to perform the first location-based action within the time period.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the first level of success based on an amount of money that the first player influences the group of users to spend at the location within the time period.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the first level of success based on feedback received from the group of users.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to determining the level of influence of the first user, selecting the group of users based on information received from a social networking system pertaining to relationships between the first user and the group of users.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the level of influence of the first user based on a third level of success, the third level of success being a level of success of the first user at influencing the group of users to perform the second location-based action.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, based on the selecting of the first user, that an incentive reward is not to be provided to the second user in response to the second user completing the second location-based action.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, based on the selecting of the first user, than an additional incentive reward is to be provided to the second user, the additional incentive reward having a lower value than the incentive reward.

7. A system comprising:

a processor-implemented game networking system configured to;

determine a level of influence of a first user of a system over a group of users of the system based on a first level of a success, the first level of success being a level of success of the first user at influencing the group of users to perform a first location-based action within a time period;

determine a level of influence of a second user of the system over the group of users based on a second level of success, the second level of success being a level of success of the second user at influencing the group of users to perform the first location-based action within the time period;

select the first user based on the first level of influence being greater than the second level of influence; and

determine, based on the selecting of the first user, that an incentive reward is to be provided to the first user in response to the first user performing a second location-based action.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor-implemented game networking system is further configured to determine the first level of success based on a number of the group of users that the first user influences to perform the first location-based action within the time period.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor-implemented game networking system is further configured to determine the first level of success based on an amount of money that the first player influences the group of users to spend at the location within the time period.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor-implemented game networking system is further configured to determine the first level of success based on feedback received from the group of users.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor-implemented game networking system is further configured to, prior to determining the level of influence of the first user, select the group of users based on information received from a social networking system pertaining to relationships between the first user and the group of users.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor-implemented game networking system is further configured to update the level of influence of the first user based on a third level of success, the third level of success being a level of success of the first user at influencing the group of users to perform the second location-based action.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computer system, cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:

determining a level of influence of a first user of a system over a group of users of the system based on a first level of a success, the first level of success being a level of success of the first user at influencing the group of users to perform a first location-based action within a time period;

determining a level of influence of a second user of the system over the group of users based on a second level of success, the second level of success being a level of success of the second user at influencing the group of users to perform the first location-based action within the time period;

selecting the first user based on the first level of influence being greater than the second level of influence; and

determining, based on the selecting of the first user, that an incentive reward is to be provided to the first user in response to the first user performing a second location-based action.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, the operations further comprising determining the first level of success based on a number of the group of users that the first user influences to perform the first location-based action within the time period.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, the operations further comprising determining the first level of success based on an amount of money that the first player influences the group of users to spend at the location within the time period.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, the operations further comprising determining the first level of success based action based on feedback received from the group of users.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, the operations further comprising, prior to determining the level of influence of the first user, selecting the group of users based on information received from a social networking system pertaining to relationships between the first user and the group of users.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, the operations further comprising updating the level of influence of the first user based on a third level of success, the third level of success being a level of success of the first user at influencing the group of users to perform the second location-based action.

19-20. -20. (canceled)