Distribution of Electronic Game Elements

• US 20140100028A1
• Filed: 10/04/2012
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stor Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stor Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Jalili, Reza
• Granted Patent: US 9,186,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/245 visual
• 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: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium for using electronic advertising resources as mechanisms to enable individuals to participate in electronic games alone or in conjunction with other players.

Claims

1. An electronic ad serving system comprising an electronic network connection to a game element serving system, the ad serving system configured to serve a game element in response to a request for serving up an ad.

2. A game computer comprising a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the game computer to at least:

receive an instruction to retrieve game-element data for distribution via an ad space, the instruction including a user identifier and the ad space including an embedded computer code that causes communication of the instruction to retrieve game-element data;

identify a user account associated with the user identifier;

determine appropriate game-element data for the user account; and

cause communication of the appropriate game-element data for display via the ad space, the ad space distributing a game element according to the game-element data.

3. The game computer of claim 2, wherein the instruction to retrieve game-element data further includes an ad space identifier, the ad space identifier indicating an appropriate format for the game-element data per the ad space.

4. The game computer of claim 2, wherein the game computer being caused to determine appropriate game-element data for the user account comprises being caused to determine appropriate game-element data based upon the content of the user account.

5. The game computer of claim 2, wherein the game computer being caused to determine appropriate game-element data for the user account comprises being caused to determine appropriate game-element data at random.

6. The game computer of claim 2, wherein the memory stores further executable instructions that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the game computer to retrieve the appropriate game-element data from a source external to the game computer.

7. The game computer of claim 6, wherein the source external to the game computer is an ad server.

8. The game computer of claim 2, wherein the game computer being caused to receive the instruction to retrieve game-element data comprises being caused to receive the instruction via an ad server computer and the game computer being caused to cause communication of the appropriate game-element data comprises being caused to cause communication of the appropriate game-element data via the ad server computer.

9. A method to distribute a game element, the method comprising:

receiving an instruction to retrieve game-element data for distribution via an ad space, the instruction including a user identifier and the ad space including an embedded computer code that causes communication of the instruction to retrieve game-element data;

identifying a user account associated with the user identifier;

determining appropriate game-element data for the user account; and

causing communication of the appropriate game-element data for display via the ad space, the ad space distributing a game element according to the game-element data;

wherein receiving the instruction, identifying the user account, evaluating the user account, and causing communication of the appropriate game-element data are operations performed by a game computer including a processor and memory storing executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the game computer to perform the respective operations.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the instruction to retrieve game-element data further includes an ad space identifier, the ad space identifier indicating an appropriate format for the game-element data per the ad space.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein determining appropriate game-element data for the user account comprises determining appropriate game-element data based upon the content of the user account.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein determining appropriate game-element data for the user account comprises determining appropriate game-element data at random.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising retrieving the appropriate game-element data from a source external to the game computer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the source external to the game computer is an ad server.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the instruction to retrieve game-element data comprises receiving the instruction via an ad server computer and causing communication of the appropriate game-element data comprises causing communication of the appropriate game-element data via the ad server computer.

16. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein that, in response to execution by a processor, cause a game computer to at least:

receive an instruction to retrieve game-element data for distribution via an ad space, the instruction including a user identifier and the ad space including an embedded computer code that causes communication of the instruction to retrieve game-element data;

identify a user account associated with the user identifier;

determine appropriate game-element data for the user account; and

cause communication of the appropriate game-element data for display via the ad space, the ad space distributing a game element according to the game-element data.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the instruction to retrieve game-element data further includes an ad space identifier, wherein the ad space identifier indicates an appropriate format for the game-element data per the ad space.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the game computer being caused to determine appropriate game-element data for the user account comprises being caused to determine appropriate game-element data based upon the content of the user account.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the game computer being caused to determine appropriate game-element data for the user account comprises being caused to determine appropriate game-element data at random.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 having further computer-readable program code portions stored therein that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the game computer to retrieve the appropriate game-element data from a source external to the game computer.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the source external to the game computer is an ad server.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the game computer being caused to receive the instruction to retrieve game-element data comprises being caused to receive the instruction via an ad server computer and the game computer being caused to cause communication of the appropriate game-element data comprises being caused to cause communication of the appropriate game-element data via the ad server computer.