CROSS-PROMOTION API

• US 20130324260A1
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: McCaffrey, Daniel, Zhang, Yan, Lee, Cadir
• Granted Patent: US 8,814,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• 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 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/13 File access structures, e.g. distributed indices arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

A system and computer-implemented method for promoting an electronic game of electronic games is provided. A user interface module is configured to receive an input from a user relating to playing a first and second electronic game. A processor-implemented association engine, operatively coupled to the user interface, is configured to associate user attributes of the first and second electronic games to the user based on the input. An application programming interface (API) is configured to associate a user attribute of a third electronic game different from the first and second electronic games, the API configured to associate based, at least in part, on rule engine implemented by the API and at least one of the user attributes of the first and second electronic games and game data of the third electronic game.

Claims

1. A method of promoting an electronic game of electronic games, comprising:

receiving inputs from a user, via a user interface, relating to playing first and second electronic games of the electronic games;

associating, using a processor, user attributes of the first and second electronic games to the user based on the inputs;

associating, using an application programming interface (API) implemented on a server, a user attribute of a third electronic game that is different from the first and second electronic games, the API associating based, at least in part, on a rule engine implemented by the API and at least one of;

the user attributes of the first and second electronic games; and

game data of the third electronic game.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating, using the API, a user attribute of the third electronic game and a fourth electronic game different from the first and second electronic games, the associating based, at least in part, on the rule engine, the user attributes of the first and second electronic games, and game data of the third and fourth electronic games.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the rule engine is configured to be applied by the API to each of the electronic games to associate a user attribute of any one of the electronic games to the user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the rule engine comprises at least one of reaching a level of achievement, increasing a metric within at least one of the first and second electronic games, achieving a goal within a predetermined period of time in at least one of the first and second electronic games, playing first and second electronic games for a predetermined period of time, and achieving a cumulative goal in the first and second electronic games.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein associating the user attribute of the third electronic game comprises:

prompting the user, via the user interface, with an offer to associate the user attribute of the third electronic game to the user; and

associating the user attribute of the third electronic game to the user upon an acceptance of the offer by the user.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the API associates the user attribute further based, at least in part, on a user characteristic comprising at least one of a user age, a user gender, a geographic location of the user, and a propensity of the user to engage in future game play.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the user attribute comprises at least one of a level of achievement within at least one of the first and second electronic games, a virtual item for use within at least one of the first and second electronic games, and user access to at least one of the first and second electronic games.

8. A method of promoting some of a plurality of electronic games, comprising:

receiving an input from a user, via a user interface, relating to playing a first electronic game;

associating, using a processor, a user attribute of the first electronic game to the user based on the input;

associating, using an application programming interface (API) implemented on a server, a user attribute of a second electronic game and a user attribute of a third electronic game different from the first electronic game, the API associating based, at least in part, on a rule engine implemented by the API based on;

the user attribute of the first electronic game; and

game data of the at second and third electronic games.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising associating, using the processor, a user attribute of a fourth electronic game based on the input, wherein associating based on the API is based, at least in part, on the rule engine, the user attributes of the first and fourth electronic games, and game data of the second and third electronic games.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the rule engine is configured to be applied by the API to each of the electronic games to associate a user attribute of any one of the electronic games to the user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein rule engine comprises at least one of reaching a level of achievement, increasing a metric within at least one of the first and second electronic games, achieving a goal within a predetermined period of time in at least one of the first and second electronic games, playing first and second electronic games for a predetermined period of time, and achieving a cumulative goal in the first and second electronic games.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein associating the user attribute of the second electronic game comprises:

prompting the user, via the user interface, with an offer to associate the user attribute of the second electronic game to the user; and

associating the user attribute of the second electronic game to the user upon an acceptance of the offer by the user.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the API associates the user attribute further based, at least in part, on a user characteristic comprising at least one of a user age, a user gender, a geographic location of the user, and a propensity of the user to engage in future game play.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the user attribute comprises at least one of a level of achievement within the first electronic game, a virtual item for use within the first electronic game, and user access to the first electronic game.

15. A system, comprising:

a user interface module configured to receive an input from a user relating to playing a first and second electronic game;

a processor-implemented association engine, operatively coupled to the user interface, configured to associate user attributes of the first and second electronic games to the user based on the input;

an application programming interface (API), the API configured to associate a user attribute of a third electronic game different from the first and second electronic games, the API configured to associate based, at least in part, on rule engine implemented by the API and at least one of;

the user attributes of the first and second electronic games; and

game data of the third electronic game.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the API associates a user attribute of the third electronic game and a fourth electronic game different from the first and second electronic games, the associating based, at least in part, on the rule engine, the user attributes of the first and second electronic games, and game data of the third and fourth electronic games.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the rule engine is configured to be applied by the API to each of the electronic games to associate a user attribute of any one of the electronic games to the user.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein rule engine comprises at least one of reaching a level of achievement, increasing a metric within at least one of the first and second electronic games, achieving a goal within a predetermined period of time in at least one of the first and second electronic games, playing first and second electronic games for a predetermined period of time, and achieving a cumulative goal in the first and second electronic games.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the user interface is configured to prompt the user with an offer to associate the user attribute of the third electronic game to the user;

and

wherein the API is configured to associate the user attribute of the third electronic game to the user upon an acceptance of the offer by the user.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the API is configured to associate the user attribute further based, at least in part, on a user characteristic comprising at least one of a user age, a user gender, a geographic location of the user, and a propensity of the user to engage in future game play.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the user attribute comprises at least one of a level of achievement within at least one of the first and second electronic games, a virtual item for use within at least one of the first and second electronic games, and user access to at least one of the first and second electronic games.

22. A system, comprising:

a user interface configured to receive an input relating to playing one of a plurality of electronic games;

a processor, operatively coupled to the user interface, configured to associate user attributes of the one of the plurality of electronic games to the user based on the plurality of inputs;

a server configured to implement an application programming interface (API), the API configured to associate a user attribute of each of at least two of the plurality of electronic games different from the one of the plurality of electronic games, the API configured to associate based, at least in part, on a rule engine implemented by the API and at least one of;

the user attributes of the one of the plurality of electronic games; and

game data of the at least two of the plurality of electronic games.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor if further configured to associate a user attribute of a fourth electronic game based on the input, wherein associating based on the API is based, at least in part, on the rule engine, the user attributes of the first and fourth electronic games, and game data of the second and third electronic games.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the rule engine is configured to be applied by the API to each of the electronic games to associate a user attribute of any one of the electronic games to the user.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein rule engine comprises at least one of reaching a level of achievement, increasing a metric within at least one of the first and second electronic games, achieving a goal within a predetermined period of time in at least one of the first and second electronic games, playing first and second electronic games for a predetermined period of time, and achieving a cumulative goal in the first and second electronic games.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the user interface is configured to prompt a user with an offer to associate the user attribute of the second electronic game to the user;

and

wherein the API is configured to associate the user attribute of the second electronic game to the user upon an acceptance of the offer by the user.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the API is configured to associate the user attribute further based, at least in part, on a user characteristic comprising at least one of a user age, a user gender, a geographic location of the user, and a propensity of the user to engage in future game play.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the user attribute comprises at least one of a level of achievement within the first electronic game, a virtual item for use within the first electronic game, and user access to the first electronic game.