Method for advertising over a computer network utilizing virtual environments of games

• US 6,036,601 A
• Filed: 02/24/1999
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adaboy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Adaboy, Inc.
• Inventors: Heckel, William
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/256,827
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/30, 463/40-42, 273/459-461, 273/236-237, 273/256, 700/91, 340/825, 340/825.22, 340/825.29, 340/825.3, 340/825.31, 340/825.33, 340/825.34, 340/825.35, 340/323 R, 380/9-10, 380/23-26, 705/14, 705/26-27, 902/1, 902/2
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0247 Calculate past, present or future revenues
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising

Abstract

A method is provided for advertising within the virtual environments of games. Default images of games are replaced by alternative textures having advertisements implemented therein. An ad server coordinates the matching of ads to demographic data of the game player and properly accommodates ads in formats from game information provided by game sources. The game player is visually influenced by advertisements as he or she views the virtual world of the game, as plug-in software replaces the default images with virtual pictures and figures utilizing an advertisement. View statistics are retrieved from the game player'"'"'s computer or console to rate viewing effectiveness for ad placement confirmation and billing purposes.

Claims

1. A method for providing advertising to a user having a computer, which participates within the virtual space of games played over a network, comprising the steps of:

(a) setting up an ad server having an ad server database;

(b) identifying a plurality of game sources that provide game server software to a game server so said user can play a game, said game server having a server ID and a user database, said user having a demographic profile and a user ID, said computer utilizing a graphics generator, a local texture store, and a game control engine, said game control engine controls said game after utilization of said game software and builds a graphical image out of an internal representation of said virtual space that said game occurs within and paints a mathematical representation of said virtual space with a plurality of default textures from said local texture store;

(c) requesting from each of said game sources texture information related to said game, comprising a plurality of on-screen virtual items wherein each of said default textures are embedded;

(d) receiving said texture information;

(e) requesting that each of said game sources provide a plurality of plug-in portions within said game server software adapted to receive a plurality of plug-ins, each of said plug-ins adapted to be images alternative to said plurality of default textures, and each of said plug-ins monitor a plurality of viewing statistics for said plurality of images alternative to said plurality of default textures;

(f) confirming that each of said game sources has provided said plurality of plug-in portions;

(g) identifying a plurality of ad sources that have the capability of providing a plurality of advertisements to said ad server, adapted to work in conjunction with said game server over said network, each of said advertisements directed to influence said user having said demographic profile, said demographic profile is retrieved from said user by said ad sources and transmitted to said ad server database and stored, and said demographic profile is transmitted from said computer to said user database by a login of said user onto said game server on said network with said user ID;

(h) providing to said ad sources a plurality of advertising formats corresponding to said plurality of on-screen items;

(i) receiving from said ad sources a plurality of advertising images;

(j) correlating each of said advertising images with each of said advertising formats, thereby forming a plurality of ad textures;

(k) matching each of said ad textures with said demographic profile;

(l) sending each of said ad textures to said local texture store;

(m) loading each of said ad textures to said plug-in portion of said game server software;

(n) loading said game server with said game server software, whereby said game server software can be utilized as game software by said user, thereby said game control engine builds said graphical image out of said internal representation of said virtual space that said game occurs within and paints said mathematical representation of said virtual space with each of said ad textures, thereby each of said ad textures are painted as said images alternative to each of said default textures, said game software works in conjunction with said game control engine, thereby said plurality of viewing statistics of said ad textures can be monitored by each of said plug-ins;

(o) receiving each of said viewing statistics from each of said plug-ins;

(p) transmitting to said game server, a means of confirmation that each of said ad textures were displayed based on receipt of said plurality of viewing statistics; and

,

(q) setting up a method for billing.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method for billing, further comprises the steps of:

(a) ensuring credit to said game server;

(b) calculating a plurality of charges to each of said advertising sources based on said demographic profile and said plurality of viewing statistics;

(c) billing each of said ad sources, whereby revenue is received;

(d) paying a portion of said revenue to said game server; and

,

(e) paying a portion of said revenue to each of said game sources.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said network is the Internet.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said game is a non-goal oriented game utilizing a virtual reality platform.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said game is an online collaborative environment.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said computer is a free standing video game console.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said game server software is utilized by download.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said game server software is utilized by installation.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said ad textures is matched to a particular said demographic profile stored in said user database.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said ad textures is matched to a particular said demographic profile stored in said ad server database.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said demographic profile includes some of the following information related to said user:

an age group, a sex, an income group, an employment group, a residence location, and an ethnicity.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said user ID includes an identification number and a password.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ad server and said game server are on a same system.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of on-screen virtual items includes three-dimensional virtual models.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of on-screen virtual items includes two-dimensional virtual pictures.

16. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of viewing statistics include:

an ad view count transmitted to said ad server showing a time each of said ad textures is displayed within said virtual space;

a screen view display transmitted to said ad server showing the arrangement of how each of said ad textures is displayed within said virtual space;

a pixel display transmitted to said ad server showing the total amount of pixels said ad texture occupies within said virtual space;

a user name transmitted to said ad server showing who is playing said game;

a game name transmitted to said ad server showing a name of said game being played by said user.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein a fit is described by a comparison made between said time each of said ad textures is displayed within said virtual space, and an intended viewing audience versus an actual viewing audience, said fit corresponds to an amount for said billing.