Electronic in-application postcards

• US 7,870,479 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2009
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Inventors: Fitzhugh, Karl, Gamon, Jeffrey, Leinfellner, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Stephen S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vaughn; Gregory J
• Application Number:
  US12/366,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20090313341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 715/200, 715/201, 715/202, 715/203, 715/221, 715/222, 715/224, 715/225, 715/226, 715/230, 715/231, 715/233, 715/273, 715/274
• US Class Current: 715/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus are disclosed for generating a composite message representative of an application experience to be sent to a remote recipient by receiving a user input selecting multimedia information provided by an application, generating a message form from within the application to receive message information, combining the selected multimedia information and the message information into a composite message, and sending the composite message to the intended recipient. A composite message is created by any or all of the following: capturing a current image, linking an associated audio file to the message, removing extraneous user interfaces from the image, scaling the image to a more appropriate display size, adding corporate logo or other identifying information to the message, and receiving text to be transmitted to the remote recipient. The electronic mail address of the sender is automatically retrieved and placed in the message form, the recipient'"'"'s name and address are received, and the address information, message text, and multimedia information are displayed to the sender to allow the sender to decide whether or not to send the composite message. A predetermined third party can be notified of the identity of the recipient of the composite message to use the information to market the application to the recipient if the recipient is not currently an owner of the application.

Claims

1. A method of sending an electronic message from within a game application to an intended recipient over a network, comprising:

receiving a user input selecting an image generated by the game application;

generating a message form from within the game application for receiving message information;

combining the selected image and the message information into a composite message; and

sending the composite message as an email message from within the game application to the intended recipient over the network without using a separate, external email application;

sending a message containing intended recipient data to a predetermined recipient to allow the predetermined recipient to identify potential users of the game application;

receiving the message;

identifying the intended recipient based on the intended recipient data;

determining whether the intended recipient is an owner of the game application; and

responsive to the intended recipient not being an owner of the game application, sending advertising material regarding the game application to the intended recipient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the message information further comprises address information for the intended recipient.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the message information further comprises message text to be transmitted to the intended recipient.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an address specifying a recipient of the message; and

attaching the address to the composite message; and

wherein sending comprises sending the composite message to the specified address.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a generate message command; and

responsive to receiving the generate message command, pausing execution of the application.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

responsive to a message containing the image being transmitted, resuming execution of the application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the message further includes sender data.