System and Method for Providing Loyalty-Based Virtual Objects Across Various Media Including Gaming Devices
First Claim
1. An improved system for an enterprise of the type having at least one physical venue including at least one commercial transaction terminal accessing a video display, a host server for tracking a user'"'"'s interaction with said terminals, a communication network and a data structure storing a data file for each user, said improvement comprising:
- a data resource storing data corresponding to at least one (i) graphical virtual object, and (ii) graphic display packages associated with said object, one or more of said data resource and user'"'"'s file storing data associating a virtual object with a user;
apparatus to enable a user to remotely access the data in their associated file via a portable device and view their virtual object data at said remote interface device display;
software controlling a feature server in communication with said one or more of said data resource and user'"'"'s file, one of said feature server and host server configured to display said virtual object at a user terminal display;
one or more of said host and feature server configured to store data representing virtual currency awarded to the user; and
said feature server configured to enable said user to redeem virtual currency to alter the data corresponding to the user'"'"'s virtual object by at least one acquisition a virtual object, acquisition an attribute assigned to a virtual object and acquisition a virtual accessory for a virtual object.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Gaming systems and methods are set forth designed to promote user loyalty with an enterprise. The user obtains a virtual object such as a virtual dog and earns the ability to acquire accessories or upgrades for their virtual dog through interaction with the enterprise. Certain accessories or upgrades may only be acquired or restored at a physical, brick and mortar venue for the enterprise to encourage the user to visit the venue. Acquisition of attributes such as accessories and upgrades may provide a basis for tournaments and prizes. The virtual object may be accessed and displayed at terminals at the venue or at remote devices. Acquisition of virtual objects may be used to qualify the user for a feature such as a progressive jackpot game.
42 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An improved system for an enterprise of the type having at least one physical venue including at least one commercial transaction terminal accessing a video display, a host server for tracking a user'"'"'s interaction with said terminals, a communication network and a data structure storing a data file for each user, said improvement comprising:
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a data resource storing data corresponding to at least one (i) graphical virtual object, and (ii) graphic display packages associated with said object, one or more of said data resource and user'"'"'s file storing data associating a virtual object with a user; apparatus to enable a user to remotely access the data in their associated file via a portable device and view their virtual object data at said remote interface device display; software controlling a feature server in communication with said one or more of said data resource and user'"'"'s file, one of said feature server and host server configured to display said virtual object at a user terminal display; one or more of said host and feature server configured to store data representing virtual currency awarded to the user; and said feature server configured to enable said user to redeem virtual currency to alter the data corresponding to the user'"'"'s virtual object by at least one acquisition a virtual object, acquisition an attribute assigned to a virtual object and acquisition a virtual accessory for a virtual object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An improved method for an casino enterprise of the type having at least one physical casino venue including gaming terminals each having a video display, a host server for tracking a player'"'"'s play said terminals, a communication network and a data structure storing a data file for each player, said method comprising:
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storing at a data resource data corresponding to a (i) virtual object, (ii) a plurality of attributes associated with the virtual object, and (iii) graphics associated with said object and attributes, one or more of said data resource and player'"'"'s file storing data associating a virtual object and its current attributes with a player; enabling a player to remotely access the data in their associated file and view their virtual object and current attributes at a remote device display; programming with software a feature server in communication with said one or more of said data resource and a player'"'"'s data file for (i) displaying at terminal and remote device displays said player'"'"'s virtual object, attributes and associated graphics, (ii) storing at one or more of said host and feature server virtual currency awarded to the player and (iii) enabling said player to redeem said virtual currency to restore or acquire said attributes. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. An improved system for a network of gaming devices each configured to accept a wager from a player for the play of a game which produces either a winning or losing outcome, a host server for tracking the player'"'"'s play, a communication network and said host server and a data structure storing a data file for each player, said improvement comprising:
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a data resource storing data corresponding to at least one graphical virtual object and data files associating any virtual object collected by a player with the player; a feature server instructed by software for accessing and retrieving from said player data files data representing virtual objected collected by the player, said gaming devices configured for displaying to a player at a display the virtual objected collected by the player; said feature server instructed by software to (i) defining one or more virtual objects collected by the player as a qualifying set, (ii) establish one or more trigger events for awarding a virtual object for collection by a player, collection of the virtual object(s) of a defined set qualifying the player to participate in a progressive jackpot game (iii) upon qualification of a player contributing a portion of the player'"'"'s wager to the progressive jackpot and (iv) awarding at least a portion of the jackpot to a player upon the occurrence of a trigger event.
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Specification